The Trails Committee met Wednesday night to discuss the role of e-bikes on trails, its ongoing projects and the initiatives members would like to see brought forward to the new iteration of a trails committee that will replace this committee and the former Upper Charles Trail Committee.

Members speculated that this may be the last time the committee meets. The Select Board is working to create a new trails committee that will incorporate the missions of both committees. It began discussions about the structure of the new committee at its Oct. 15 meeting.

Electric bike usage on trails debated

During the public comment period, former UCTC chair Jane Moran brought forward information regarding a discussion about electric bikes that occurred during a past Open Space Preservation Commission meeting. She serves on the OSPC as the Planning Board liaison.

Moran noted that the Friends of Whitehall, a local nonprofit organization, came before the OSPC to advocate for the exclusion of e-bikes on trails on land under the OSPC’s jurisdiction.  The logic behind this is that a concern that e-bikes would damage the root systems of trees.

“We had a very thoughtful discussion,” she said. “At the end of the day, my memory is that e-bikes are generally for folks who have a disability or challenges or seniors.”

She added that the OSPC did not offer to support e-bike exclusion, saying that the commission “did not want to be excluding them in any way, shape or form.” But going forward, the new trails committee may want to include the Friends of Whitehall in future discussions about this topic, along with the OSPC and the Parks & Recreation Department.

Member Linda Chuss countered Moran’s point about e-bike use, noting that she has observed teens and younger adults use and purchase them. Chair Peter LaGoy agreed, adding that e-bikes tend to be hybrid in nature. Member Fran DeYoung said he has seen “a broader spectrum of people” who use e-bikes.

Chuss said a common perception is that e-bikes are not allowed on trails unless signage shows that they are permitted. She also explained that e-bikes “are far more sustainable than EVs [electric vehicles]” but are not used going into town because of safety concerns.

LaGoy said the discussion about e-bikes could be continued as a trail master plan is developed by the new committee. He envisioned a trail that e-bikes could use to go to the Southborough commuter rail station as well as one to travel to Hopkinton State Park.

New committee member composition pondered

Committee members discussed the pros and cons of having associate members on the new committee. Associate members would be able to contribute their expertise without the commitment involved in a full membership to attend a majority of the meetings. They also could focus on a particular project.

DeYoung noted that an associate member role could be a “stepping stone” to a full or elected position on another board or committee.

The downside of having associate members was that they may not be as invested in the committee’s goals. Chuss mentioned that it may be harder to get associate members. Recruitment would be key, according to DeYoung.

Chuss noted that there was limited discussion at the last Select Board meeting on the role of potential alternate members on the new committee. LaGoy said he would draft a letter to the Select Board outlining “the purpose and the value of associate members.”

Members also thought a nine-member committee of full members may be too unwieldy and suggested seven full members with three associates.

Progress on current projects detailed

LaGoy said that road signs will be ordered to alert motorists of trails. This is a trial project that could be expanded.

He also announced that progress was made during the Oct. 5 trail work day on preparing the site where fitness equipment will be installed off Center Trail, just north of the Loop Road intersection. This originally was slated to be a Scout project, but it was hampered by supply chain delays. The project includes installation of a sit-up bench, pull-up bars, horizontal bars and a balance beam.

Some progress has been made on the website, Chuss said. It will be put on hold for a few weeks while the committee’s future life span is determined.

Members attend conferences

Chuss and Dauchy recently attended the 2024 MetroWest Trails summit hosted in Ashland by the MetroWest Regional Collaborative and Metropolitan Area Planning Council. Part of the trail walk began in Ashland and ventured onto Hopkinton’s Wiley Woods Trail, which Dauchy spoke about to participants. Chuss noted the strong support by town officials from other communities who attended and suggested that contacts from neighboring towns could be invited to the new trails committee meetings to share their expertise.

LaGoy and Dauchy will be attending the 2024 MassTrails Conference, which will be held at the DCU Center in Worcester on Oct. 26. There will be pre-conference workshops and field trips from Oct. 22-25. One that Dauchy said he would attend on Oct. 24 will focus on accessible trails.

Trail volunteer day scheduled

The next trail volunteer day will be held on Nov. 2. The work area will be the extension of the Center Trail that runs from Field 13 off Loop Road to Chamberlain Street.