King County Parks has launched a new public awareness campaign to emphasize that while Class 1 and 2 e-bikes and electric foot scooters are allowed on county shared use trails, motorcycles (gas or electric), mopeds, ATVs and Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed. Basically, if it has a gas motor of any kind or an electric motor capable of powering the device beyond 20 mph, it is not allowed to be used on a King County trail even users are traveling below the county’s 15 mph speed limit.
The campaign includes new signs outlining the prohibitions:
These are not new rules, but the rise in popularity of fast e-motos, scooters, unicycles and other electric devices with top speeds well beyond 20 mph has become a growing source of complaints and conflicts. King County Sheriff’s Office deputies will also be out issuing warnings, according the press release:
King County Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to King County Parks are prioritizing educating the public about the dangers of exceeding the 15-mph speed limit, especially when trails are crowded. During this initial education period, deputies will focus on outreach and warnings. King County Parks is also posting signs on trails to show which vehicles are prohibited…