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Updated Park Rules Allow Trail Usage All Day and E-Scooters, E-Bikes

Omaha Field Club Trail, north trailhead
Omaha Field Club Trail, north trailhead

A proposed update to the Omaha Parks and Recreation rules would have kept the parks closed between 11pm and 5am, including the trail system. Both Mode Shift Omaha and Bike Walk Nebraska noticed the proposal going before the City Council and offered their opposition, thus delaying the City Council vote (June 15th, 2021) to a later date (July 13th, 2021). Further discussions with the Parks Department, Police Department, and these community organizations yielded a successful change to the proposed parks rules. The amended rules were passed 7-0.

The lengthy discussion at June 15th’s City Council meeting begins at 48:19 in this video:

From the Parks Dept proposal: “Park Closing: All City of Omaha Parks, park facilities, parking lots, golf courses, etc. shall be closed from 11:00pm to 5:00am.” Exceptions would be made for park roads through three parks, campers at one park, and for any person or organization who requests a modification approved by the city council.

“A comprehensive review of park rules has been one of the first major projects undertaken by Matt Kalcevich, who in December took over as director of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Public Property Department.” [Omaha World Herald]

As argued by several individuals and representatives from Bike Walk Nebraska and Mode Shift Omaha, the trails were built with money for transportation, for the purpose of transportation, and are widely recognized by such organizations as MAPA, B-Cycle, and Metro as transportation. Trails are part of non-vehicular transportation, not merely part of recreation facilities.

The amended proposal that passed on July 13th, 2021 (at 3:12:45 in this video) now reads:

1. Park Closing: All City of Omaha Parks, park facilities, parking lots, golf courses, trailheads, etc. shall be closed from 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Exceptions:

a. Multi-use (shared-use) paved trails will remain open 24-hours a day with the purpose of supporting those commuting or selecting a trail as their main mode of transportation. Trail users must follow all Nebraska Bicycle Laws and trail guidelines for safety. Use of the trails at any time is an at your own risk activity and users must take all precautions during every use. Trail users during the hours of 11:00 PM to 5:00 AM should not stop, park, or gather in parks or other areas closed to activity.

If you scroll down to item 17, E-Bikes and E-Scooters are now permitted on the trails as well. There is a maximum speed and they must be electric. As Omaha residents and our government learn how to accept multi-modal transportation, there will of course be discussion whether some things are acceptable. The Lime and Spin scooters have had their problems in the city, but much like when cars were introduced over a hundred years ago, the people and their governments will adapt. These processes are continuous.

Also worth including here is news about the Harney Street protected bike lane. Omaha’s first protected bike lane nears completion [WOWT]

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