UPDATE 7/21/23:
Class 1 E-Bikes to be Allowed on Designated Trails in the County
Westminster, MD, July 20, 2023 – Today in Open Session, the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BCC) approved an Amendment to the Carroll County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 94, section 94.033 to allow usage of Class 1 E-Bikes on designated trails in county-owned parks. The motion also included the addition of expanding efforts to educate trail users about trail etiquette. The multipurpose trails affected include those at Gillis Falls, the undeveloped side of Piney Run Park, Union Mills, Hashawha and Speigel Hill.
On June 29, 2023, the BCC conducted a public hearing to hear comments on the proposed Amendment and kept the record open for ten calendar days.
Before the public hearing, the Department of Recreation and Parks received public comments regarding the issue of E-Bike usage on trails and reviewed the Code with the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Upon the recommendation of the advisory board, the department proposed a change to the Carroll County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 94 Park and Recreation Section 94.033 to include a statement allowing for usage of Class 1 E-Bikes only, on designated trails in county parks.
Open session meetings are available for viewing on the county meeting portal and the county YouTube channel. In addition, all meetings will be replayed on Comcast Channel 24.
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UPDATE 7/3/23:
Here’s the article that appeared in the Carroll County Times on 6/30/23 and the video link to the Open Session where public comment was accepted.
Deadline to submit written comment is July 8th.
Comments can be emailed to “[email protected]”
and/or to individual commissioners
[email protected] (His district includes Piney Run)
[email protected] (His district includes Union Mills/Hashawha)
[email protected] (His district includes Gillis Falls)
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Notice to Trail Riders and Trail Users – Public Hearing on proposed Ordinance amending Chapter 94.036, Parks and Recreation, of the Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances of Carroll County BEGIN: 6/29/2023 9:00 AM
The County Commissioners of Carroll County will hold a public hearing on Thursday, June 29, 2023, beginning no sooner than 9:00 a.m., to hear public comments on a proposed Ordinance
amending Chapter 94.036, Parks and Recreation, of the Code of Public Local Laws and Ordinances of Carroll County.
The proposed Ordinance would allow Class 1 E-Bikes on certain walking or hiking trails designated by the County.
The proposed designed trails are Hashawha, Union Mills and Piney Run (undeveloped area.) The Union Mills area includes trails from the John Owings Road parking lot and the Kowomu Trail parking lot.
You can voice your opinion in person (in 3 minutes) on 06/29/2023 or you can submit you comments in writing prior to the hearing date via email to [email protected]. This email address goes to all 5 Commissioners and becomes part of the public record.
For more information regarding how to comment during the public comment portion of the hearing, please contact the Department of Recreation and Parks at 410-386-2103 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday prior to the date of the hearing.
The Commissioners may make amendments to the proposed legislation based upon the comments received at the hearing and may do so without further hearing. Therefore, it is important for interested persons to be present.
The Carroll County Equestrian Council is opposed to Class 1 E-bikes on the trails at Union Mills and Piney Run (undeveloped area.)