Residents of Marquette line up for the public comment section during the e-bike and multi-use path task force meeting on Thursday. (Journal photo by Antonio Anderson)

MARQUETTE – A public forum was held at Lakeview Arena in Marquette on Thursday night by the e-bike and multi-use path task force, with a large attendance filling all of the seats and no small amount speaking during the public comment.

The task force urges the public to come and share their opinions, which the task force intends to use to help change and shape policy.

“The public and myself included in that, use this pathway every day,” task force chairman Cary Gottlieb said. “There’s not a day I am not on the multi-use path and I am sharing that path with the citizens of Marquette and the surrounding areas and tourists that come to Marquette.”

The meeting also held a presentation by Sean Hobbins, the deputy city manager of Marquette, which showcased a long term plan to build up the biking infrastructure in the city, which is still many years away.

Public comment followed, which saw a majority of resident speakers sharing opinions criticizing the safety of the current rule that e-bikes need to ride on the road. Others shared opinions on why the multi-use path should be for everyone and one shared a story on how they were hit by an e-bike.

“I really just came to tell you what happened to me two weeks ago,” said Avery, a resident of Marquette. “I was walking home to my house on Fourth Street on the sidewalk at 9:30 at night when I was hit by an e-bike. I was hit from behind going downhill. Luckily, I am here to tell you about it. I just have some bruises and (some) bad road rash but a police report has been filed.”

A majority of the public comments were about safety concerns regarding the e-bikes, like how some kids go too fast for some of the paths and sidewalks. Others shared thoughts regarding the safety of the e-bikes on the road, especially how the accelerator cuts out at a certain speed and often cars line up behind the rider. One resident brought his daughter.

“This is my daughter Lily, she is eight,” said resident Rob Marow. “I have three other kids down to three weeks old. I carry one to four kids on my bike, which is a class 2 e-bike. I am just worried that right now if I follow the rule, I have to be on the road. That is not safe. Nobody wants me on the road with my little kids. You’ve got to change something right now.”

Other residents shared opinions on building and instilling safe behavior with riders instead of hard restrictions on the multi-use path and roads.

“I advocate for adding more devices on the path,” said Zack Youngs. “I host an event every year called the Marquette Fresh Coast float that encourages anyone (on) any device to come out in front of the Welcome Center to Presque Isle and it is during Hiawatha weekend, and none of you probably know about it because that is how safe it is. I have run it for five years and nothing (has happened). It is really a user problem and not the device.”

Chairman Gottlieb says the meeting in September will include bike rental companies and trail networks to hear their professional opinions.

“By the beginning of October, we will have met with all the user groups,” Gottlieb said. “Our committee will sit down and formulate what we think is the best plan for the multi-use path and e-bikes for the city. Then we’ll present it to the city commission, hopefully (by) early December.”

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.