Colorado Springs’ controversial e-bikes ordinance proposal is discussed with longtime trail advocates Kent and Ruth Obee. The proposal would define Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, powered by an electric motor, as "non-motorized use,” in order to “comply with” or “circumvent” (depending on your point of view) the voter-approved TOPS (Trails, Open Space and Parks) prohibition of motorized vehicles in TOPS-acquired spaces. The proposal was recently approved by the Parks Advisory Board, and is expected to be considered by Colorado Springs City Council in December. It was rejected in a November 6 TOPS Working Committee meeting. E-bikes are currently not allowed on trails in parks and open spaces procured by the TOPS program.

For over 25 years, Kent and Ruth Obee have served on boards and volunteered their time for numerous park and open space projects and agencies, including TOPS.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Mayor Yemi Mobolade

Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates

Steve Harris

Palmer Land Conservancy

Colorado Springs Utilities Budget and rate increases

Closure of the Rockrimmon branch of the library

Downtown safety, recreation and parking enhancements

Downtown Colorado Springs

State Representative Marc Snyder

U.S. House Candidates River Gassen and Jeff Crank

GrowthBusters documentary

LINKS:

City of Colorado Springs Ebike Policy Info

https://coloradosprings.gov/Ebikes

Colorado Springs E-Bike Policy Gains Narrow Vote of Approval

https://gazette.com/news/colorado-springs-e-bike-policy-gains-narrow-vote-of-approval/article_f0309bea-a2d8-11ef-8dc9-9feaa04a5a3b.html

What Is TOPS?

https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/what-tops

Colorado Springs Residents Call on City to Help Pay Rockrimmon Library Lease Before It Closes

https://krdo.com/news/2024/11/12/colorado-springs-residents-call-upon-city-to-help-pay-rockrimmon-library-lease-before-it-closes/

NEW City Parking and Curb Management Plan Survey

https://coloradosprings.gov/2024ParkingPlan

2025 Art on the Streets Call for Entries Now Open – Feb 12 deadline

https://downtowncs.com/art-on-the-streets-call-for-entries

GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth (documentary produced by Dave Gardner)

https://youtu.be/_w0LiBsVFBo

EVENTS:

Ice skating in Acacia Park – opened November 15

https://downtowncs.com/event/skate

RMFI's Annual ShinDIG – fundraiser (Rocky Mtn Field Institute)

Thursday, November 21, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Meanwhile Block, downtown

https://www.rmfi.org/shindig

November 29 - December 22, 2024: Sense & Sensibility

Ent Center for the Arts at UCCS

https://entcenterforthearts.org/events/sense-and-sensibility

SUNDANCE SHORTS TOUR and SUNDANCE INDIGENOUS FILM TOUR:

Friday Dec 6t and Saturday Dec 7

Independent Film Society of Colorado

Cottonwood Center for the Arts

Tickets, film guide and more info: https://ifsoc-sundance.eventive.org

Loving the Springs celebrates the best of Colorado Springs and elevates the rest.

Plug into what’s happening in the Pikes Peak region, learn about awesome people, places and happenings, and explore opportunities to make life here even better. Local gadflies Al Brody and Dave Gardner love our two springs – Colorado and Manitou, so they give them the mic in this twice-monthly podcast. Nothing’s off the table – recreation, the arts, government, business, politics – if it touches your life, they'll talk about it. We’ll invite the movers and shakers, conspiracy theorists, NIMBYs, YIMBYs, yaysayers and naysayers to join them.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and give us feedback and suggestions via comments at https://studio809podcasts.com/loving-the-springs or lovingthespringspodcast at gmail.com