eBike riders caught on the Carriage Roads at Acadia National Park can be fined $130/NPS clipart
Opposition to allowing eBikes on non-motorized trails in the federal lands system has been voiced by dozens of conservation groups, who fear permitting the motorized bikes on those trails will create a "slippery slope" that will lead to future problems with managing those trails.
In a letter to the chief of the U.S. Forest Service, the acting director of the National Park Service, and the acting director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the groups stated that they "oppose any effort that would allow any class of vehicle with a motor – including all classes of e-bikes, which by definition have a motor – to be allowed on non-motorized trails."
The issue came to light earlier this summer at Acadia National Park in Maine, where eBike users were told they could not ride on the Carriage Roads that wind through the park on Mount Desert Island. Fines for those caught on the roads start at $130, according to the park's website.
Discussion of that ban on National Parks Traveler spurred comments from many eBike users who said the bikes allow them to enjoy areas of parks that they normally couldn't walk to due to declining health.
"Apart from ebike commuters, I believe you will find ebikers to be an older, less fit demographic with some medical issues. We are not speed focused. Don't shut us out without at least a trial period," wrote DML.
In Traveler's weekly podcast, Kristen Brengel of the National Parks Conservation Association and Phil Francis of the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks voiced concern over allowing eBikes on non-motorized trails, and said the National Park Service needs to evaluate the issue carefully and fully and, if the decision is made to provide more access to the bikes beyond existing motorized routes, adopt strict regulations that outline where the various classes of eBikes are allowed to travel.
There are three "classes" of eBikes:
* Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
* Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.
* Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
"Class 2 may not be suitable for singletrack mountainbike trails - it has been shown that they pose greater physical damage to trails due to the throttle-actuation," writes eBike manufacturer Bosch on its website. "Class 2 may be better suited for multi-use OHV trails designed for more rugged off-road vehicles.
"Class 3 eBikes are typically allowed on roads and on-road bike lanes (“curb to curb” infrastructure), but restricted from bike trails and multiuse paths. While a 20-mph maximum speed is achievable on a traditional bicycle, decision makers and agencies consider the greater top-assisted speed of a Class 3 eBike too fast for most bike paths and trails that are often shared with other trail users."
The conservation organizations, which range from the Addison Oaks Trail Riders to the Yankee Springs Trail Riders Association, say motorized vehicles should be kept separate from trails used by hikers and horseback riders.
"Non-motorized trails were created to ensure that the public could find recreational trail opportunities free from the ever-growing motorization and mechanization," reads the letter. "Millions of public land users including hikers, backpackers, hunters, horse packers, climbers, mountain bikers and many more, value non-motorized trails for recreation. Opening non-motorized trails to motors would forever change the backcountry experience for these users.
"We recognize that e-bikes have a place on public lands and generally should be allowed where motorized vehicles are permitted. The existing motorized trail system provides plentiful opportunities for e-bike use with tens of thousands of miles of trails currently open to their use."
There are groups organized to lobby for greater access for eBikes. PeopleforBikes strives to get more people across the country on bikes, and the growing popularity of eBikes hasn't been overlooked by this group. On their site are a number of papers discussing the benefits of eBikes. One even examines motorized mountain bikes and perceptions about them.
While the popularity of pedal-assist electric bikes (eBikes) generally is growing, electric-mountain bikes (eMTB) have not received a warm welcome by many within the mountain biking community. Anecdotally, a variety of concerns have been raised concerning eMTB use, including trail damage, trail confict, decreased trail access, and the perception that eMTB use is not “real” mountain biking or is “cheating.”
The outcome of that paper was that, "(T)hree predominant themes emerged: What is an eMTB?, Trails, and How should eMTBs be used? There was general confusion about the features and capabilities of eMTBs except by those who had previously used one. Commenters expressed concern over a variety of trail-related issues, including that eMTBs will damage trails similar to the way motorized vehicles do and that they could cause restricted access to some trail systems. There were inconsistent opinions on the use of eMTBs, where some comments saw riding mountain bikes as a 'rite of passage' and that using an eMTB was 'cheating.' There was some level of acknowledgement that eMTBs may be useful for promoting exercise, but this was mediated by the 'rite of passage' belief.'"
According to PeopleForBikes, there already are "more than 300,000 miles of singletrack, doubletrack, and natural surface roads accessible to motorized users."
In their letter of opposition, the conservation organizations wrote that allowing eBikes on non-motorized trails "is ill-advised and would undermine nearly a half century of management precedents and practices. First, allowing e-bikes on non-motorized trails would be un-manageable and send agencies down a slippery slope towards allowing further motorization of trails and potentially the entire backcountry. Federal land managers simply do not have the resources to police e-bikes on trails."
"Second, permitting e-bikes on non-motorized trails is contrary to long-standing 'travel management' laws and policies dating back to the Nixon administration that require all motorized recreational uses of our public lands to be confined to a system of designated roads, trails, and areas. Among other requirements, motorized trails must be located to minimize conflicts with other recreational uses of the public lands, as well as damage to soil, water, and other public land resources and harassment of wildlife."
Currently, the groups concluded, there are multiple opportunities for users to enjoy both motorized and non-motorized opportunities on public lands. However, they added, "(O)pening non-motorized trails to motorized bikes would effectively eliminate the non-motorized, primitive recreational opportunities."
Here's the list of those groups that signed the letter:
Addison Oaks Trail Riders
Allegan County Pleasure Riders
American Endurance Ride Conference
American Hiking Society
American Flyers
Appalachian Trail Conservancy
Back Country Horsemen of America (and the 30 BCH states and 196 chapters, full listing at end)
Bay Area Barns and Trails
Blue Ridge Horsemen's Association
Brighton Trail Riders Association
Canalway Partners-Board Member
Carolina Mountain Club
Colorado Mountain Club
Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Assoc, Inc.
Conserving Carolina
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
County Line Riders of Catalina, Inc
Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association (DORBA)
East Mountain Regional Trails Council
Fort Custer Horse Friends Association
Grand Valley Trails Alliance
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Highlands Plateau Greenway
Ice Age Trail Alliance
Idaho Trails Association
Indiana Trails Community
Ionia Horse Trails Association
Kensington Trail Riders
Maybury Trail Riders
Michigan Horse Council
Michigan Trail Riders Association
Montana Wilderness Association
Montana Backcountry Alliance
National Parks Conservation Association
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Nickel Plate Trail, Inc
North Carolina Horse Council
North Country Trail Association Incorporated
Oregon Equestrian Trails
Oregon Horse Council
Overmountain Victory Trail Association
Pacific Crest Trail Association
Partnership for the National Trails System
Pinckney Trail Riders Association
Pisgah Trailblazers
Pontiac Lake Horseman’s Association
Proud Lake Trail Riders
Quiet Trails Group
Rose Oaks Equine Adventurers
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
Tri-County Horse Association
The Wilderness Society
Winter Wildlands Alliance
Yankee Springs Trail Riders Association
Comments
I agree, I'm over 70, I've been riding for many years, mostly road bike competitive racing. I started mountain biklng in my early 60's and found out that I loved it. I never concerned a ebike until last year. For me it's wounderful, I can keep up with my 35 year old son.
This bike has 2.8 tires and it does way less damage than a bike with narrow tires and I find it handles well and very controllable going down steep descents, more so that my previous mountain bike.
Its funny years ago MTB'rs were fighting the same battle against hikers to gain access to hiking trails, how short memory some of these people have as now they are trying to limit the access of emtb's. Reading through the comments which are predominantly pro ebike. Now as far as comparing class 1 ebikes to motocross type bikes is still and uneducated on ebikes. Being a seasoned rider I can achieve higher speeds on my mtb as opposed to an e bike. Any one try pedaling an e bike once the assists cuts off? Anyway emtb bikes are here to stay and with the different classifications set forts by states it just a matter of time but ebikes are hee and here to stay. Ebike sales are through the roof more and more people are changing their attitude. I'm not sure who has the right to tell someone they cant ride somewhere as the get older or have health issues and need a little help to enjoy their quality of like. There are still people with antiquated and uneducated beliefs about ebikes but rest assured I still will say hi and be polite when I see you on the trails as it's just a matter of time for access.
A lot of ignorance in this proposal.
Very well said! Unselfish and objective. You said goodbye to a sport you loved and did not try to change all the regulations to justify continuing it just because your life was changing. Instead, you changed your attitude and transfered your interest into a different sport that is more fitting for you at this time in your life. Those of us who will continue outdoor sports throughout our lives will face such a momemnt someday. I hope we are humble enough by then to comply with regulations that maintain "order in the outdoors", rather than try to change them to fit around "our personal agenda".
well said, rational, objective and UNSELFISH. Our society is heading into a major state of narcisim and it shows in many of the comments. Everything revolves around the "ME", instead of what's revolving around what is right for the environment and respecting other people/user groups. There's a place for everything and everything is not meant to be in one place.
Dictionary's Definition of Motorized: with a MOTOR to operate or propel; with MOTOR transportation. I observe a hiker, horse, mtn bike as being self propelled- having no electricity, no motor. It's simple and rational, so let's not make a mountain out of a mole hill by overlooking facts and definitions. Rules are implemented to protect user groups from each other. E-bikers can find tread on motorized trails/FS roads/ATV-motorcycle parks and leave self-propelling trails to those users who have fought years to have their feet/hooves on their designated terrain and who do volunteer work to protect that terrain. I feel I have room to say all this. I am a mtn biker and hiker and horseman and skier and trail runner and hunter and ATV rider of 38 years and recently started e-biking and enjoy it. I comply with the regs that are there to protect each group from negative encounters with one another, to protect wildlife wintering grounds and spring wildlife birthing grounds, to protect resources. It sucks to get old and see everyone arguing over what THEY want, rather than what's best for nature and peoples safety/enjoyment. There's a place for each user group but it cannot be in every park, every trail, every terrain feature, every season of the year. E- bike with motor/throttle causes erosion and has option for excessive speed over other users, therefore having conflicts (just like mtn bikes)- I've observed it. That's why Nat Parks and other trail managers have rules against them. I've had to adapt my hobbies to changing times. I use my mtn bike where it is allowed and my e-bike where it is allowed, including ATV/motorized trails. I hike in areas that don't allow mtn bikes. I mtn bike sharing trails with ATVers and I ATV on trails open to all users. You just need to learn to play well with others. Leave the narcissism at home, there's no place for it in nature. It's not the 1970-80's anymore. You can't do almost everything almost everywhere. The outdoor recreation population has grown tremendously and with too many conflicts the rules are increasing. E-bikers need to accept that they have an electric motor on their bike and now need to own up to it and own up to the regulations that an e-bike fits into: it's a motorized vehicle (with pedal power option). I see most people using the throttle/motor when riding their e-bikes on trails and are seldom pedaling. That's why they bought it, right? Guess I'll go put pedals on my ATV so I can ride it on non-motorized trails or promise the park service that I won't use the motor while on the trail..... Yea, right. If you did not research about trail access prior to making the big purchase (quite a few people I've met have made this mistake) then accept this as your mistake. I don't' feel it's right of you to expect the regulations ( that are already in place to protect users and lands) to change just because you have a toy that is not accepted on the trails where you expected it to be accepted. You purchased a motorized vehicle and you can use it as a motorized vehicle in motorized areas. IT'S SIMPLE, RATIONAL and FAIR to the user groups already in existence.
I've been riding a Emtb for a few months now...my speeds are no faster than my non-electric bike. Europe allows them, they encourage them. I maybe a better able to maintain a slightly faster pace up hills, but that's it. As far as trial damage by e bike's rear tire never brakes loose or spins. I believe it may cause less damage than a regular bike. I'm 62 and love riding it. Even with an e bike I"m still getting pased by the same number of non-e bike riders.
I have more faith in regulators than to think that by allowing a 250 watt pedal assist e bike it will somehow open the flood gates to gas powered motor cross bikes. I am 62 and recently bought my first class 1 e mtb. Like many riders my age, this modest amount of assist gives me the ability to enjoy trails I once was able to ride without assist. Arguing for a blanket approach by banning all motors is an oversimplification of the issue. There is group of users in my demographic that deserve a closer look.