Bikes in Depew Park

Supported traditional pedal mountain bikes and Class 1 e-mountain bikes in Depew Park, describing his first ride there in years after double knee replacement; urged stewardship by volunteer riders.

Asked the council to vote yes on Amendment B, saying Class 1 e-bikes are slow and pedal-assisted, and that trails are a healing place for kids and adults.

President of the Putnam Westchester Mountain Bike Association walked through 2007–2009 Depew Park planning records showing trails were treated as multi-use, and read a county letter praising the group's maintenance work.

Supported Amendment B and trail etiquette signs, saying she relocated to Peekskill in 2019 specifically for its cycling and trail access.

Opposed mountain biking in Depew, arguing Blue Mountain's 1,600 acres and 20+ miles of trails already serve bikers while Depew's three miles should stay a peaceful hiking experience.

A 22-year resident and 30-year mountain biker said he's never had a negative trail encounter and has helped lost hikers; argued the ban was never really enforced.

Co-president of Fats in the Cats Bicycle Club said his 200-member club's riders travel to Depew's unique trails and supported e-bikes, noting Class 1 bikes have a 20 mph limiter.

Vice president of the Westchester Mountain Bike Association described the trail network's history and proposed school and after-school youth mountain biking programs based at Depew.

From Croton-on-Hudson, he said Depew's trails are the easiest and most accessible part of the network — ideal for kids and beginners — and noted volunteers provide free trail maintenance.

A young rider from Kissam Road cited city DRI applications from 2017–2019 stating biking was permitted in Depew, and said restricting bike types mostly just limits consumer choice.

Asked the council to move with caution, suggesting access to specific trails only and raising unknown impacts on park wildlife and the lack of rangers to enforce rules.

A 52-year resident whose house abuts the park questioned whether Depew is the right place, asking for answers on safety studies, enforcement, maintenance costs, and parking before changing the park's character.

Said safety concerns are overblown — she found no incident reports — and argued kids have no safe place to ride given no bike infrastructure; offered free volunteer maintenance under IMBA standards.

A Connecticut rider of 25 years called the current ban an ambiguity, praised the mountain bike association's leadership, and urged a common-sense approval.

A lifelong resident born in 1965 said his family used the park constantly and he's never had a single conflict there; argued the old regulation works against what the city is trying to sell.

An Ossining resident voiced support and said allowing mountain biking teaches children inclusivity.

Spoke online from California in strong support, arguing the Blue Mountain boundary is unmarked so the ban is unenforceable anyway, and backed Class 1 e-bikes citing his mother's hip replacement recovery.