Cycle
E-bikes are the fastest-growing segment in the cycling industry today. Some companies report that e-bikes account for up to 25% of their annual sales. That’s huge for a category that has only taken off in the past few years. The bike industry as a whole is struggling, but people want electric bikes.
Out for a ride last week on National Forest trails, I was passed by two people on e-bikes, which got me thinking. Are they appropriate, or even legal, on non-motorized trails? Should they be treated like normal bikes, or is their increased speed just fuel for more conflicts? We reported last year that Mammoth is opening its bike park to e-bikes. Some are celebrating the move, while others see it as the first step in the end of the human-powered trail experience.
At the moment, Europe has quite a few regulations on E-bikes, but in the U.S., things are mostly regulated by the states, and the laws are inconsistent. The Bicycle Product Suppliers Association (BPSA) has created a three-class electric bike system to help define e-bikes. Classes 1 and 3 are basically the same, other than the speed the motor provides assistance to.
Class 1 – a bike equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when pedaling, and ceases assistance at 20 mph.
Class 2 – a bike equipped with a motor that may be used without pedaling up to 20 mph.
Class 3 – a bike equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when pedaling, and ceases assistance at 28 mph.
The class system has been adopted in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington. In other states, they’re considered a normal bike or a motor vehicle. It’s all very confusing. Further complicating things, the regulations depicted on the map above only apply to e-bike use on roadways, paved infrastructure, and “bike paths.” E-mountain bikes are not addressed in state vehicle codes, and the difference between a “path” and a “trail” is open to interpretation, leaving eMTB access in a gray area.
Things are clear on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management federal public land. Both agencies classify e-bikes as motor vehicles, meaning they are not allowed on non-motorized trails. The people who whizzed by me last week did so illegally, but to be fair, I didn’t know the rules, and I doubt they did either.
If you scroll through the websites of big manufacturers like Trek and Specialized, there is model after model of e-mountain bikes, so where are people supposed to ride them? Right now, there are not many options. Polls done by the International Mountain Bike Association show over 75% of mountain bikers are against allowing e-bikes on their trails, yet barely anyone polled has ridden one. Those that had were much more supportive of allowing access. Caught in a tough spot, the IMBA recently shifted their support to allowing Class-1 bikes (20mph assist), but only on select trails where appropriate. At this point, it is up to local and state governments to decide.
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, voted to open two paved “trails” inside the city limits to Class 1 bikes back in April 2018. A year-long study did not produce any major conflicts, and the city hopes that it will encourage people to ride more and drive less. Seattle is considering a pilot program to allow e-bikes on 5 paved trails throughout the city, and a similar program in Durango, Colorado, is already underway. A quick internet search popped up dozens of other cities around the country in the same boat. Even though this isn’t yet a move to allow e-bikes on unpaved trails, it’s the first step in allowing motorized traffic into places where it was once prohibited.
Mammoth Mountain, California, is the first and only major resort to open its mountain bike trails to e-bikes (Class 1 only) in 2018. With ski areas increasingly cashing in on the summer season, it makes perfect sense to start renting bikes and selling passes to people who would otherwise not ride. Interestingly, Mammoth was able to pull this off even though it operates on US Forest Service Land. Several resorts, like Steamboat and Winter Park, Colorado, and Bear Valley, California, already let you ride e-bikes on their trails – but only with a guide. I have no doubt other ski areas will follow Mammoth’s lead in the future, especially those operated on private property.
Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. Photo: Mammoth Mountain Resort
Personally, I believe that a bike should not have a motor, but I can see things from both perspectives. E-bikes getting people riding is a great thing for bike advocacy, trail work, reducing car traffic, and the overall health of our country. If you’ve never ridden one, they’re fun (and I was a very hard skeptic). On the negative, there’s already enough trail conflict from mountain bikers riding too fast. Giving people the power to ride even faster could compromise bike trail access altogether. Opening trails to e-bikes also blurs the line regarding other forms of motorized access. First, it’s e-bikes, then what? It’s a tough call.
In Europe, e-bikes are widely accepted. In fact, companies without an eMTB in their lineup are not considered “core” mountain bike brands. Generally speaking, as long as the bike meets the EU e-bike regulations, it can go anywhere a normal mountain bike can. There are even eMTB racing leagues popping up all over the place. The attitude and access are the polar opposite of those in the United States.
The next step in the general e-bike access problem is to try it out. Boulder County, Colorado, is poised to be the first place in the U.S. to do just that. Last August, the county recommended allowing class 1 and 2 e-bikes on county open space and regional trails. Without a doubt, there will be a backlash, but at this point, we need to stop speculating and give it a go.
With the mountain bike community’s lack of support, I don’t think we’ll be seeing eMTBs on Forest Service trails any time soon. As for the ski areas and local state land, the change is already underway. E-bikes are here to stay.
These bikes are seriously misunderstood by people who either have not ridden them and think it’s a dirtbike. It’s .3 HP at 250w output, think gentle push. A 50cc Honda Ruckus which goes about 30mph is 15x more powerful for example. An actual dirt bike at 250cc is nearly 160x more powerful than a class 1 ebike. There is no more damage, no more noise, and no more speed than a fit 20-year-old on a regular mountain bike. A pro biker puts out more power by far than the motor on an ebike.
Afraid of access loss? Think about how many MORE advocated for biking will exist with ebikes bringing in all kinds of older people with sore knees etc that still want to bike but don’t want to limp around for a few weeks afterward. That .3 hp is just enough to take the strain off of old knees and make the experience enjoyable again.
To the MTB crowd, look at yourselves. Your the hiker’s trying to ban MTB from trails for exclusive access. You’re that guy right now.
Not sure why Americans have to be such a bunch of aholes about everything..governed bike are less a menace than KOM seeking strava bros.
I live in a city and don’t have to worry about mountain trails. Going to pick up a few items at the store and riding in the local park for exercise….that shouldn`t be illeagal. My ebike tops out about 25 mph but I may ride about 20 or 30 miles every time I get on it. And at 72 years old, I think I deserve my motor !
I just turned 68 and looking forward to putting a 750 watt motor on my Banshee.
What’s this guy thinking boomers are going to muck things up ?
If it wasn’t for boomers, there’d be no bike industry. You’d think gen x was responsible tech. Build a faster jet than an SR 71 with a slid rule.
What’s the problem on the trail ? Being passed by somebody going 6 mph when you are doing 4 ? OMG.
I’ve always been unsafe going downhill. On the weekdays when nobody’s around.
I can’t imagine squeezing the throttle going down.
Looking to put my over-sized Magura rotors, 210/180, to good use on the flats.
With you all the way. I’m 73 and still ripping the downs, but can’t climb anymore. I rarely pass anyone going uphill on my e bike. Just so grateful to be able to keep up with the group now and go on rides I was missing.
Please for the love of God don’t let the Boomers screw this up too. They see them and they don’t like them, they don’t know why so they make stuff up about how fast they are when any road biker can hold a 20mph constant
These bikes are for the boomers to get up the hills.
Not allowed on Forest Service trails? News to me!
What? I’m 68 and ride and love my new ebike. Your anti-Boomer aggression is misplaced.
The laws in most states and parks are 15 mph. Ticket e-bikes and regular bikes the same-15 mph. I see MTB bikes coming down the trails at 30 mph all the time.
Class 1 only on BLM and park service lands…
Totally agree with the author though, ignorance about this issue runs deep, especially with LEOs
This article is so last 2 months( lol).
As of Sept. 3rd all access for ebikes has been granted on BLM properties.
Now go out and try to ride Moab.
Ignorance and holding your point of view. From a reasoned standpoint the ebike is not used to go faster down the hill they are used to not pedal up hill or someone who needs a boost cause of old age or injuries any one that thinks that people get these to go faster down the mountain is mistaken. No one not one person said oh I can’t go fast enough down the hill I wish I had a way to do that. Duh so stupid. They are made for the other times. Cars can go 100mph but they don’t because we have speed limits . Wait that doesn’t stop people speeding. Duh there will always be assholes and idiots and what usually makes you an asshole is when you think other people should listen to your illogical nonsense about a powered bike. The bike isn’t bad the rider is. Duh that what this is all about. If you ride with respect and safety in mind then all is good
Not only was Boulder not the first place to “try out” ebikes, they *banned* ebikes from mountain trails. ebikes are only allowed on paved paths and *some* crushed gravel commuter paths in the non-mountain areas.
However, Jefferson County, the next county south of Boulder, *did* legalize Class 1 ebikes on all trails, including the mountain trails and all paved and crushed gravel commuter trails.