FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 1, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: KIRA CALM LEWIS 301-446-3327; Kira.CalmLewis@pgparks.com
IYANA MOORE 301-446-3313 - or – Iyana.Moore@pgparks.com
Department of Parks and Recreation to Begin E-Bike and E-Scooter Pilot Program
Riverdale, MD – As of November 1, 2019, The Maryland – National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Department of Parks and Recreation launches a pilot program to permit electric bicycles (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters) on certain hard surface trails. The Prince George’s County Planning Board approved the park directive* at the October 31st Planning Board meeting.
The pilot program will span 6 months through August 1, 2020, with the option to extend the program for an additional six months. The intent of the directive is to evaluate the use of e-bikes and e-scooters on selected hard surface park trails to determine if the pilot program should be made permanent, rescinded or modified to be best integrated into parks’ countywide hard-surface trail system.
The pilot encompasses e-bikes and e-scooters that operate by rechargeable battery. The e-bikes will have pedals and users can engage the electric power only when they are pedaling, and have a maximum speed of 15 mph. All e-scooters operated under the pilot program must be limited to a 15 mph speed limit. Allowable E-vehicles include VeoRide Inc. shared vehicles and personal E-vehicles: Bikes - Max. 500 watts.
Trails to be included in the pilot program include the following hard surface bicycle and pedestrian paved trails:
Northwest Branch Trail; Sligo Creek Trail; Northeast Branch Trail; Indian Creek Trail; Paint Branch Trail; Little Paint Branch Trail; Trolley Trail in College Park, Riverdale Park, and Hyattsville; the Anacostia River Trail (ART) between Armentrout Drive and Bladensburg Waterfront Park (BWP).
E-vehicles are NOT ALLOWED on select loop trails at Lake Artemesia or on the ART south of BWP. Please park e-vehicles in designated locations.
Allowable e-vehicles include VeoRide Inc. shared vehicles and personal e-vehicles:
- Bikes - max. 500 watts
- Scooters - must operate at appropriate speeds (max. 15 mph)
Please visit pgparks.com for more details. We welcome your comments or questions at the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Parks Open Town Hall Forum. Visit pgparks.com/opentownhall.
*A park directive is a policy tool defined and described in Chapter I, Section 3 of the Park Rules that authorizes the Director of Parks and Recreation in the county to propose a rule change to allow a particular activity on parkland in one county for a specified period of time.