It has been a busy few months of eMTB news. While we know that the topic can be divisive, controversial, and provocative, the growing prevalence of eMTBs in the United States has challenged land managers, mountain bike organizations, and politicians to find ways to integrate them into land management plans and operations.
Like it or not, it is happening right now, and it would be irresponsible of us to filter the news from readers who might not like it, or to turn a blind eye, as Singletracks has always covered what’s going down on the trails, in terms of access, and letting readers know where they can ride.
Most recently, we talked about the allowance of eMTBs on National Forest land around Lake Tahoe, and of course the recent decision by Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt to allow all three classes of e-bikes on land that the Interior manages, including National Parks and BLM land.
While we have covered these eMTB access “victories,” or why some people don’t like eMTBs and how they could potentially harm access, and readers have left countless arguments for or against eMTBs, we hadn’t yet spoken with many of the actual trail advocacy organizations who have taken mountain biking so far, and have had their hands deep in paperwork and dirt. Largely, a lot of arguments out there — for or against — are based on assumptions of what trail advocates might say.
In order to cut straight to the chase, we spoke with four trail organizations, two of which represent national interests, while the other two represent local interests, to get varying perspectives.
Dave Wiens, International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA)
Most informed mountain bikers should be familiar with IMBA and with Weins. IMBA first rolled out a stance on eMTBs and surveyed members back in 2015, but as Weins also said in our discussion, four years ago qualifies as “eons” in terms of electric mountain biking.
Most recently, they updated their position around eMTBs, which was essentially a reaffirmation after Secretary Bernhardt opened the gates on classes 1-3 on National Parks and BLM land.
From IMBA’s perspective, what seems to be the attitude around eMTBs?
In short, it’s evolving. Generally speaking, mountain bikers are the group that know most about this topic. They know the class system, they know the difference between a pedal assist and a throttle, they understand why these bikes are appealing to a broad group of users.
We’ve been talking about e-mountain bikers as mountain bikers for a number of years, but it’s only in the past two years, and more particularly this summer, become a reality on the trails. You rarely saw an eMTB before that, but now more mountain bikers than ever have at least tried an eMTB and have that perspective to help form their perspectives and opinions. And the topic is getting a lot more attention outside of the mountain bike world.
Has it altered IMBA’s mission in any way?
No, it hasn’t altered our mission at all, but it’s something that we have to take into consideration, because it’s on the landscape. To a casual observer, they look just like a mountain bike. It’s not like it’s this totally different thing that came along, it’s very similar to a mountain bike and they’re designed to be used on the same terrain as a mountain bike. While we’re not advocating for their use, we’re certainly involved in understanding how they fit into the bigger picture of trail access.
Is IMBA communicating with land managers about eMTBs?
We’ve only had a resource area on our website, but IMBA doesn’t do anything specifically, like demo days. Land managers are more in tune with eMTBs, more so those that manage trails. Locally, our BLM has done their due diligence to understand eMTBs and they’ll get several offices together and go ride eMTBs on local trails to understand exactly what it is.
And, what we hear is that riding them is a big step in people’s minds, not necessarily in accepting them, but understanding them, and what the technology is and what it isn’t, particularly class 1.
Is there pressure on IMBA to advocate for eMTB access?
There’s certainly pressure and that pressure can come from a variety of areas. In the extremes, on one end, you’ve got mountain bikers saying ‘we don’t want anything to do with eMTBs,’ and the other saying ‘we want these things to be everywhere, they’re just like a mountain bike,’ and as an advocacy organization, we hear them both.
We’re keenly aware that this category of mountain bikes is not going away. I know that the US is not exactly like Europe, but if we look to Europe for at least an inkling of what may be to come, we’re going to see nothing but growth on the eMTB side.
To better position our organization and to protect access for traditional mountain bikes, we can’t stick our head in the sand that these things don’t exist. When I say “we,” I’m talking about IMBA Local organizations, and basically local mountain bike organizations across the country, mountain bikers, and IMBA. That’s the collective that is already being impacted one way or another by more e-bikes on the landscape.
We hear it frequently from the side that says “e-bikes are not mountain bikes.” Well, there is a pedal-assist element to them, sure. There is a motor. You can point to it. But, other than that, if a group of riders goes by and five are on e-bikes, and five are on regular bikes, they kind of all look the same and they’re going for a ride on the same trails.
If it’s Hartman Rocks here in Gunnison or Cement Creek up in Crested Butte — trail systems that are open to motorized use — then it’s all good. You have a whole bunch of people enjoying mountain biking, some of them just happen to be using a bicycle with a small motor and pedal assist.
Is there pressure from the bike industry to advocate for eMTB access?
No, and the reason for that is that less than ten percent of our annual budget comes from the industry and a very small portion of that comes from brands that are really interested in seeing more acceptance for e-bikes.
Since I came on, and the current team, we’ve had this discussion many times. We have a mission. We’re not an industry trade organization, we’re for mountain bikers, so we need to be unencumbered by pressure and influence from financial supporters. We’re very clear up front that your support for IMBA does not buy a particular decision or direction.
Some of the biggest eMTB brands are also not supportive of IMBA at all. Other brands do have an eMTB interest, but aren’t asking us for anything. We’re 100% not impacted by the industry, which is a great place to be in.
Does there need to be some sort of education on eMTB access or use for eMTBers?
Absolutely, but will it be? How effective can it be? If someone buys or demos a bike, hopefully that retailer educates the buyer on where they can take it and where it’s appropriate to ride, and where they can’t take them. Education is a huge part of it, because they’re not allowed everywhere currently. But it’s a tall order.
Have you seen any instances where eMTBs have threatened traditional MTB access?
We have not, and that’s a big part of our position. We’re supportive of class 1 eMTB access as long as traditional MTB access isn’t threatened. The second part of that is we don’t want to see class 1 eMTBs and mountain bikes become one and the same and there is a movement that wants to see that happen. We feel like that has the potential to be dangerous to traditional mountain bike access, and that’s not the best for growing eMTB access, if they’re combined.
If that happens, we would never get them apart again and if there were access issues for whatever reason, then access for all bikes, class 1 and traditional, would potentially be threatened again.
Ted Stroll, Sustainable Trails Coalition
Ted Stroll is the president of the Sustainable Trails Coalition (STC), a long time mountain biker, attorney, and advocate for allowing bicycles in federally-managed Wilderness. The STC formed in 2015 to advocate specifically for this cause.
What is STC’s stance on eMTBs?
We are pretty agnostic on them. We don’t have any official institutional position of any kind […]. [D]espite all the industry jargon […] [they are] low-powered motor vehicles.
The Wilderness Act forbids the use of any kind of motorized equipment or transportation, and we respect that. Our critics say that we’re working to undermine the Wilderness Act, but we’re working to reaffirm it. Originally, and the way that Congress passed the law, they intended for human powered travel to take place in Wilderness. We’re trying to restore the Wilderness Act to its original intent. Electric bikes are clearly contrary to the Wilderness Act.
How does your membership feel about eMTBs?
What we see on our Facebook page is that members seem to be just as divided on e-bike access as the larger mountain bike community. We have STC supporters who disdain them. We have supporters who think they’re really valuable.
Does e-bike advocacy seem take away from non-electric bike access?
The advent of e-bikes presents another challenge STC’s mission a little more uphill than it would already be. And that is because unsurprisingly, the people that oppose what we’re doing, trying to get human powered travel in Wilderness areas, say that it won’t be possible to keep e-bikes out, and they have a point.
It makes our work a little bit harder, but that’s just the way it is. And, we don’t oppose e-bikes simply because they make our work harder, it’s just another challenge.
At the institutional level, it probably makes our work worse, but in terms of mountain bikers getting kicked off the trails in California, I haven’t seen any evidence.
Actually, on the trails, for all the irritating behaviors that e-bikers can exhibit, in the state of California, I see very little backlash from hikers. The backlash doesn’t seem to have materialized on the trails, people don’t seem to care very much.
What is your outlook on the future of eMTBs?
Before long, they’re going to minimize the batteries so they don’t have that bulbous downtube, and it’s going to be hard for anybody, including the land managers to tell.
And, we live in a society where people will circle around the parking lot to park 50-feet closer to the store. I was in Switzerland 20 years ago, and I couldn’t believe it, I did this rugged 20km hike and there were all these people in their 60s and 70s going up this hill, it was like a traffic jam.
But, the US just isn’t that kind of country. If there’s some labor-saving device out there we seem to gravitate to it real quick, and I think they’re just going to gain in popularity.
Yvonne Kraus, Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance
Yvonne Kraus is the executive director of EMBA, the nation’s largest statewide mountain bike association, made up of eight different chapters. The introduction of eMTBs has been difficult for Kraus and EMBA to navigate, and while dealing with them seems completely possible and also unavoidable, Kraus believes that it’s going to take time.
What seems to be the attitude towards eMTBs in your area?
We have a good amount of people embracing the technology and are seeing more eMTBs on trails. And there seem to be just as many steadfast opponents who are adamant that a hard line must be drawn at the motor. My inbox has about an equal amount of pro and con emails. Our community remains fairly split in terms of adopting eMTBs on trails, but over the past two years, I have noticed a softening of anti-eMTB comments and support for increased adoption and access [has] become more positive.
Most pro-eMTB arguments I receive focus on the technology offering increased access and diversity to the sport, and the request for Evergreen to advocate for increased eMTB legal trails.
Others argue that mountain bikes belong on non-motorized trails and while Class 1 access would be human-powered, the fact that there’s a motor makes access delineation and enforcement more difficult.
A lot of people are concerned that providing access ultimately leads to increased trail conflict and pressure, which could threaten overall mountain bike access to non-motorized trails if our community chooses not to abide by the rules. With ongoing technology advancements and the battery technology becoming ubiquitous, eMTBs could advance quickly, and to the point where they will be seen as no longer compatible on non-motorized trails.
There’s a good amount of opinion on both sides of the scale. But, interestingly in completing recent panel presentations at conferences, audiences have been more accepting than I anticipated, and the most vocal opposition comes from within the mountain bike community itself.
What is EMBA’s stance towards eMTBs?
We haven’t created a public position statement, and that’s because we are not land managers. Our role is to best advise our land managers on the impact of their decisions to allow e-MTBs on their trails. But we’ve taken a very active advisory role: being part of the legislation process and recommending class 1 access only; only where it makes sense; and only if it does not affect the quality trail experience for other users on multi-use trails, and to plan from a baseline of “closed unless signed open.”
I see our role as a facilitator to help slowly, appropriately, and sustainably introduce this technology. By doing that, we’re not taking a hard stance, but we’re recognizing the fact that the technology is here, and it’s gaining popularity all over the world, and adoption here makes sense. But it cannot be rushed and it cannot be done without industry investment. And in my personal opinion, it shouldn’t be done blanket-style for all eMTBs under existing non-motorized management objectives. Throttles on non-motorized trails are just not okay. Having separate management objectives for eMTBs is key to success. Then, we can work with land managers to introduce them where it makes sense.
Is eMTB advocacy taking away from regular MTB advocacy?
I think there is little awareness of the amount of work it takes to maintain access for traditional mountain biking on trails in certain areas. This technology provides renewed reason for trail user groups to argue that the sport of mountain biking is no longer compatible [on non-motorized trails].
My access conversations are now not only about providing e-bike legal trails, but also include a renewed level of effort for keeping access on existing non-motorized trails and defending our right to be there. That is purely based on a renewed sense of fear, particularly after the recent DOI decision allowing access for all three classes of eMTBs.
So yes, this is taking my time away from doing development on regular mountain bike trails. I now have to do development and advocacy work on e-bike trails and issues, simply because of community pressure, and our Trails Director is spending time calming down or responding to social media comments. This week was all about e-bike comments, pulling together a WA State coalition to respond to the DOI ruling, and restarting a Board special committee on our eMTB response. And no joke, this delayed 8 contracts for new trails and pump tracks that are on my desk awaiting my review and signature.
We don’t get any industry help. Most stores simply ignore the fact that they’re creating a problem and do not educate their customers. Other stores who support EMBA would like to get us more engaged because they’re seeing the market change. And none of the e-bike stores, brands, or manufacturers are offering to help pay for creating access. They may be lobbying at a national level, but they are not stepping up to address the impact of their products on local trail systems.
It’s tough because as the ED of an advocacy organization, without direct industry support, why should I push for e-bike legal trail systems if they aren’t helping to pay for that access? And at the same time, it’s personally emotionally challenging when I have to tell people that they can’t ride their brand new eMTB on a trail they are obviously enjoying.
What is your outlook on eMTB access in the future?
Hopefully over time the technology will be ingrained, and over time sellers and buyers will play by the rules. I do think that eventually things will settle out in a way that’s sustainable, and that for Evergreen, staying relevant for our future members means embracing the technology. But, I think that without industry help, the burden on how to do it right falls on us.
So, can they provide match-grant funding for things like building an e-bike legal trail on public land, which doesn’t take resources away from other trails we’re working on?
E-MTB legal trail introduction on a brand new trail system, where there is no historic use, is a no-brainer. Why wouldn’t you adopt it if it’s brand new trail, and built to today’s wishes and technology? New trails can built specifically for eMTB use: wider uphill turns for example. And if you’re not an e-MTB fan, you don’t have to ride there.
The idea of staying relevant and meeting future user needs is very important to me, for Evergreen’s ongoing appeal and success. I’m trying to hone in on the reasons why exactly advocating for eMTB access is important. Sure, they are a lot of fun to ride and bring more people to the trails, but they are also at the moment spurring controversy and encouraging bad behavior that is not helping our community. I also hear the disability argument a lot, but I personally do not believe it should be used as a reason for access.
E-MTB technology benefits are limited to people with minor disabilities. For the most part, you still need working legs and arms to be able to ride them. The disability argument should include e-assist motors and trail modifications for all adaptive bikes. Evergreen is building an adaptive trail at Duthie MTB park in 2020, with support from King County.
True disability access means investing in wider trails, ensuring wide wheelbase bikes can clear obstacles and grades, and looking at ways the people with all disabilities can access the outdoors through our sport — adaptive bikes with e-assist handcranks for example.
I’m pretty unwavering in my opinion that disability access advocacy and investment for eMTBs only does not service the community we’re trying to reach. That investment must be more broad and encompassing. It’s wonderful that someone with a hurt knee can ride a little longer on an eMTB, or continue to ride with family members, but we can’t draw the line at disabilities at an eMTB, we must consider the full scale of adaptive bike access and investment to make that argument.
Gary Moore – Colorado Mountain Bike Association (COMBA)
Gary Moore is the executive director of COMBA, which is an IMBA Local chapter. While eMTBs are not legal across the board in Colorado, places like Jefferson County, which hold the state’s most-visited trails had a trial period for class 1 eMTBs last year and the bikes became permanently authorized on the county’s busy trails.
Moore’s summarized response to the questions:
Access to natural surface trails for Class 1 eMTBs is still hotly debated in Colorado’s Front Range. We think there’s still much to learn about the introduction of eMTBs to the natural surface trails and we are fortunate to have a front row seat to watch their implementation and to see what, if any, impacts they have both on the trails and their interactions with other trail visitor groups.
Both Colorado State Parks and Jefferson County Open Space, perhaps the busiest trails in the state with nearly 7M visitors annually, allow class 1 eMTBs on their natural surface trails and have for approximately the past year or so. That adds up to the better part of 300 miles of trails in our area and a lot of interactions between eMTB riders and the usual trail visitor groups.
Our members are split on the issue, with about 40% who see eMTBs as an essentially different mode of recreation that should be treated as such, and the rest are either neutral or in favor of welcoming motorized-assist bikes as just another bike in the quiver. To date, we haven’t found any need to advocate specifically for or against eMTBs. Purely anecdotally, eMTBs seem to be blending in well without the need for special considerations and we remain focused on pursuing world-class mountain biking in the Front Range.
Key takeaways
What surprised me the most about talking to each and every organization was how measured and objective they were regarding eMTBs — even Ted Stroll from the Sustainable Trails Coalition, whom I would’ve thought would be the least friendly towards the eMTB conversation. Although they are clearly counterintuitive to the STC’s mission, Stroll wasn’t riled up talking about eMTBs, and couldn’t validate the argument that they would hurt access for traditional eMTBs.
Yvonne Kraus’s statements gave me a lot to think about, however. Based on what she and others had to say, there is something lacking from the brand and retailer side of eMTBs, where they would obviously be financially interested in selling a bike and yet it is not their responsibility to enlighten customers on where eMTBs are actually legal to ride.
The end result is an under-educated rider that isn’t going to let their new several-thousand dollar toy just sit in the garage and collect dust.
Pivot donates a portion of every Shuttle eMTB bike sale to IMBA and has worked with organizations on eMTB education. Although this doesn’t directly increase rider education, or contribute directly to eMTB integration, it is one example of realizing that it’s not productive to introduce this technology onto sales floors and not pitch in anywhere else.
Perhaps the most important piece to chew on though, based on recent events, is that the integration of class 1 eMTBs on non-motorized trails does seem like it will happen regardless. Yes, they have motors. Everyone I spoke with agreed on that, but a class 1 eMTB motor does not equal that of a dirtbike, and it doesn’t have the same impact on trails.
Electric mountain bike technology will continue to improve over time, and the bikes will look more and more like non-motorized mountain bikes. And like Wiens said, eMTBs will be ridden by folks who look like regular mountain bikers.
Eventually, the only distinction to be made will be from core mountain bikers who can recognize the appearance of an eMTB, and assumptions be damned, still don’t want anything to do with them. In the grand scheme of things, that seems to be the least of our problems.
The Wilderness Act clearly says “no other form of mechanical transport” so it’s obvious that mountain bikes were never meant to be in Wilderness Areas. I’m afraid the Sustainable Trails Coalition is on the wrong end of history on this one. The great ironic thing about this is that Ted Stroll is over 60 and at some point having an ebike will make mountain biking more accessible for him.
Do you have an alert that tells you to troll every time someone mentions STC or Wilderness Act? Its a law that can be changed. Other people have opinions that differ from you. “Wrong end of history”, really?
Word.
Reading this helped me come closer to understanding what about this debate got me riled from time to time. I think it’s mostly based on two things. The first I won’t get into other than to say as a Motorcyclist . . . the whole “it has a motor, therefore it is a motor bike” @%$@#S ME RIGHT THE #%& OFF.
On a more constructive note, the other part that gets me piqued is/are the arguments of trail damage. As pointed out, “No Other Form of Mechanical Transport” taken *strictly* would rule out MTBs. But I’m interested in what about eMTBs are truly objectionable. I’m not approaching this from the “look, it’s a MTB with a motor/pedal assist/technology” standpoint. Here’s where I’m coming from, and I’m using a dirt bike as a reference:
1) Gasoline fumes pollute the environment. This is very evident.
2) Noise pollution. Also very evident. We’re not talking about making it annoying for other people in the woods, we’re talking about wildlife.
3) Weight of the bike. This is a big one (no pun intended) because the weight of a dirt bike is a major factor in trail damage. Largely because . . .
4) The power needed to move the vehicle. Torque is required to move a bike, and you need a bunch more to move a 300+lb machine + a rider than a 30lb machine + a rider. This can lead to tire slippage that digs into the ground, etc.
eMTBs don’t violate these. For those who want to point at the weight difference between a low-end eMTB and a carbon frame XC . . . I’ll just say be careful. That weight difference will be made up depending on the rider. Well, unless the approach is “only people who weigh less than X should be allowed to ride” is to be adopted. And that would be a bad approach to take in my opinion.
The tech is not going away. If eMTBs are truly a problem, I’d like to hear sold reasons why. I’m talking how the machine is an issue . . . not the idiot riding it. For those who point to the bad rider who flies down the trail on her eMTB at 25+MPH, I’ll point to the equally bad rider who plows her 29er Aluminum full squish through untamed woods because she doesn’t feel like riding through mud that day. Not the bad rider who dangerously passes riders uphill on his eMTB while going super fast; I could point to the normal MTB rider who dangerously passes riders downhill on his hardtail because he doesn’t care about putting someone off the trail.
I want to hear why the eMTB is *actually* a problem.
Sorry if I riled feathers this morning.
vapidoscar, yes, I have an alert that let’s me know when an article appears about mountain biking in Wilderness Areas. An Alert is fairly easy to set up using google. Just google “google, setting up an alert.”
And Yes, STC is on the wrong end of history here. First of all, the only person they could get to sponsor their bill is the most extreme right-wing member of the Senate: Senator Mike Lee. And this time, it seems as though Lee is going it alone because there are no co-sponsors for the Bill in the Senate, yet. And, Congressman Tom McClintock has not yet reintroduced the Bikes in the Wilderness Bill in the House. McClintock usually wins his House Seat by 25%, but this last time in 2018 he only won by 8 points. So, he might be more wary of introducing this ridiculous legislation.
And even Ted Stoll has indicated his bill is doomed. Here is a quote from a December 2015 Podcast: “The way Congress works is if you have the Democrats controlling either house, then inevitable opponents of what we are doing could always find some Senator or member of Congress who will find a way to block the kind of Legislative change we’re seeking, with two Republican houses, that becomes much more difficult” So, even Ted Stroll thinks it will be an uphill battle with the Dems now controlling the House. And let’s face it, STC has had two years of having the Congress and Administration completely controlled by the Republicans, AND THEY STILL COULDN’T GET THEIR STUPID BILL PASSED!!!
What this has been is a total waste of the $250,000 that STC has allegedly received. We really don’t know exactly how much they have received because they have NEVER published their taxes. Any legitimate organization collecting money by donations would at least publish their taxes.
The Sustainable Trails Coalition and their Bill just stinks to high heaven.
His mind is made up, he’ll continue to comment without doing any further critical thinking. Thankfully there are a lot of people that still read, and have read the original verbiage of the Wilderness Act and agree wholeheartedly with the STC and their position. The fact is: bicycles were included in the original act. There is no changing that history, or that a strong lobby was able to amend the Act. Those are really the only facts that are actually history… the opinion that the amendment was correct is his, and if local land manager are able to make sensible decisions for human powered travel in his area, maybe he can spend energy keeping wheels off of his (hiker/equestrian) trails and be happy.
Jon, why don’t I just quote the Wilderness Act so YOU and everyone else can read it, because apparently you have not read it. Here is the line in question:
“there shall be no temporary road, no use of motor vehicles, motorized equipment or motorboats, no landing of aircraft, no other form of mechanical transport, and no structure or installation within any such area.”
So, that line bans motor vehicles, motorized equipment, motor boats and motorized aircraft cannot land. All the possible motorized vehicles are covered in the sentence. So, if “mechanical transport” is the same as “motorized transport” then the line “no other form of mechanical transport” would be redundant with the rest of the sentence. It’s obvious that the line “no other form of mechanical transport” can mean transport other than motorized transport. The fact that it says “no other form” even emphasizes it covers a wide spectrum.
Jon writes: “The fact is: bicycles were included in the original act.” Even Ted Stroll of the Sustainable Trails Coalition disagrees with that. In a Frontlines podcast of October 2017, Ted said “Mountain bikes and bicycles generally never made an appearance in the Wilderness Act, itself.”
And I really don’t want a local yocal land manager making decisions that Congress used to make. Previously, when there was an exemption in the Wilderness Act for any reason, Congress wrote that into the Bill for the Wilderness Area. For instance, preexisting airstrips were grandfathered in the Bob Marshall River of No Return Wilderness Bill.
So, Jon, you are wrong on all accounts
Pasting long and longer quotes makes you no more right than it does to use Caps to emphasize a point. Your opinion is yours, and mine is mine. The fact is unchanged that bicycles were included in the original act as the signing president stated. You may continue to blowhard on the issue but you still won’t change my mind with your tactic. In the era of drafting, mechanized and motorized where used interchangeably because both words were taken to mean something with a motor. Like a mechanized division in the army = tank. I say you are wrong on all points and in the wrong side of history.
Jon Wrote: “The fact is unchanged that bicycles were included in the original act as the signing president stated.”
Okay, then LET’S SEE THE STATEMENT from the “signing President.” I provided a quote from the actual Wilderness Act that backs up my point of view. Perhaps you need to back up some of your stuff. Either put up or shut up.
He knew what hole signed, it wasn’t the reinterpretation of 1986 that Reagan signed… “The forgotten outdoorsmen of today are those who like to walk, hike, ride horseback or bicycle. For them we must have trails as well as highways.” LBJ 1965
LOL, LBJ’s Forgotten Outdoorsman speech was for the National Trails Act, not the Wilderness Act. I rest my case.
Yup, his quote was from ‘65. NTA was ‘68. Please do rest, nobody is changing your mind and you certainly aren’t changing mine…
Jon, Send us the link to the speech.
The Wilderness Act was passed in 1964, so it’s obvious that
he was trying to promote something else.
You need to get your head out of your tail.
My 12 year old son rented an ebike the 2nd day of our trip to bentonville ar. It was helped for him to stay with Dad who wanted to due a ton of riding. He is not disabled, but less skilled and it certainly help him hang with me for sustained riding. I don’t need, but dont have a problem with it.
Summary of this article: Most people can’t tell the difference between an MTB and an eMBT. There is no known instance of MTB trail access being threatened by eMTBs. In the real world, there is little backlash against eMTBs from other trail users. {See below for excerpts from Wiens and Stroll}
One possible conclusion: Emerging data does not support a ban or segregation of eMTBs.
According to Wiens: “To a casual observer, they (eMTBs) look just like a mountain bike. It’s not like it’s this totally different thing that came along, it’s very similar to a mountain bike and they’re designed to be used on the same terrain as a mountain bike… if a group of riders goes by and five are on e-bikes, and five are on regular bikes, they kind of all look the same and they’re going for a ride on the same trails.” When Wiens was asked “Have you seen any instances where eMTBs have threatened traditional MTB access?”, his reply was “We have not…”
According to Ted Stroll: “Actually, on the trails, for all the irritating behaviors that e-bikers can exhibit, in the state of California, I see very little backlash from hikers. The backlash doesn’t seem to have materialized on the trails, people don’t seem to care very much.”
The only reason STC may be against ebikes is that it puts bicycles in the class of Motorized
Vehicles and the Wilderness Act specifically bans motorized vehicles. It also bans non-motorized
vehicles to with the phrase “no other form of mechanical transport,” but, it an error of strategy,
STC claims that “mechanical transport” means the same thing as “motorized transport.” Well, if
the writers of the Wilderness Act wanted it to mean “motorized transport” they could have just
written it that way.
Plus, the title of the article says that Singletracks asked “Four Major Mountain Biking Organizations.”
Well, maybe if STC really wants to be viewed as a “Major Organization” they should publish their taxes
for everyone to see. So far they have allegedly collected over $250,000 in donations but have never
published their taxes like any respectable organization would do.
One thing that people need to remember is that eMTBs (at least capable ones) have not been around very long, and the ones that are have been very expensive to the average rider. I live and ride in Southern California where the trails are very well used and crowded almost every weekend in the year, and I have seen relatively few eMTBs on the trail until this year. I think it’s important to realize that eMTBs are going to continue to become more and more popular as price and capability improve, and there will be more and more backlash from other trail users (hikers, equestrians, hunters, and even the casual mountain biker). Soon It won’t just be the out of shape guy or the next best thing crowd mainly on these, there will be scores of fit riders who will be able to easily do triple the amount of trail time as before. Its not just going to draw more people to the sport, it is going to exponentially increase the amount of miles ridden overall on trails. This no doubt will increase both trail degradation and conflict if it is not managed properly.
@ Blacketj – I have a question.
You pointed out with the improvements of eMTBs and the cost drop that’s expected, trails could become overcrowded.
Would you feel the same if eMTBs didn’t exist but the same number of people got traditional MTBs and the trails were just as crowded? I’m looking for the issue here – is it overcrowding that’s the concern, or something specific w/ eMTBs?
@ – Revengel
I’m not concerned with eMTBs crowding the trails. My point is that it is undeniable that increased eMTBs will increase trail wear and conflict between trail users. For some trail systems this will not be a problem, but for others it will. Before there can be rules put in place to mitigate these issues it is important to realize that the eMTBs of today will not necessarily be the eMTBs of tomorrow. My concern is that if certain trails are opened up to eMTBs, where does it end. Do we only allow pedal assist bikes, or can they have a twist throttle? Do they need to stay under 20, 30, or 50 mph? Should they be restricted to under 500w or 5kw? What about weight limits? If people are allowed to ride motorized bicycles on all national forest trails, what will be the reason for not letting others ride motorized dirt bikes (electric) on those trails as well.
@ Blacketj, thank you for the response!
Increased trail usage is increased trail usage and certainly elevates the need for maintaining a trail system. You brought up a number of points in regards to eMTBs, and while I may not agree with some of them, I believe these are valid points of discussion.
On weight, the limit I can see would be GVW for any wheeled item (MTB, eMTB, Dirt Bike, etc.) with additional restrictions based on emissions and noise (would address the dirt bike issue.) a 40lb bike w/o carbon emissions is a 40lb bike w/o carbon emissions . . . regardless of how hard a person has to pedal. Granted, that’s my view.
Speed limit – that’s a rider issue/concern. Just because a rider *could* bomb a descent at 35mph doesn’t mean she *should* do so. I largely put that on the rider rather than restrictions. For example, the singletrack I ride in Maryland isn’t Whistler. If I pretend it is and wind up wrapping Marmaduke around a tree, that’s my fault, not the bike’s manufacturer. #LiesITellMyself
For me the big takeaway is eMTBs only open up the chance for more individuals to enjoy the trails we currently ride without increasing damage to the system more than other MTBs. However more people on the trails certainly increases the wear and tear on the natural areas we frequent. While I may not personally agree with the desire to separate eMTBs and traditional MTBs for legal or advocacy reasons, I feel I have a better understanding where that approach comes from.
And cut to the chase you did, Matt Miller! Thank you so much for your article, so very informative. And as a 65 year old eMTBer myself, so very encouraging.
Thanks, Craige. I really appreciate that.
I am 66 years old and a long-time road biker. I occasionally went out with my two sons on a MTB. I was in excellent physical condition until recently when I injured my back. I had back surgery two months ago. my calf is somewhat atrophied and weakened from the injury and hopefully will slowly return to normal. I bought an e-MTB a few weeks ago and have been taking it up on local trails here in the Santa Monica mountains. It has been an unbelievable wonderful experience as I slowly gain confidence and tackling more challenging rides. I didn’t even know there were restrictions on e-MTB until I purchased the bike but was informed about the recent law change which I really don’t understand how it will impact the local trails. I also was unaware there were anti e-MTB groupies. Here is my take. I can now ride trails I previously wouldn’t have even attempted. I usually am riding during the week since I am retired. however, I can say that I have only crossed paths with maybe a dozen MTB riders during my rides. I guess I do understand the concern if the e-MTB allows more riders like myself to go out, the trails could be overcrowded. BUT THEY ARE NOT CROWDED NOW. I really am sick of the slippery-slope crowd saying well what if everybody was on the trail…. I agree planning needs to be done now but don’t try to restrict my access when this is not an issue. and WTF did David Wiens mean when he says ” I was in Switzerland 20 years ago, and I couldn’t believe it, I did this rugged 20km hike and there were all these people in their 60s and 70s going up this hill, it was like a traffic jam”. I was in Switzerland years ago also and I marveled how wonderful it was that all ages were enjoying the mountains. Is he saying the old fogies shouldn’t be allowed so he can have less crowds? they were hiking, not riding e-bikes. What an ass! This shows the real intent for the objections. The young riders are selfish and want the trails to themselves. If (and a big if) trails become overcrowded like Yosemite Valley, I could support MTB trails only. but one of the associations above even admitted access is not currently an issue. Come on guys, let your grandpa have some fun.
Liked your focus on accessibility to more people. As a timid beginning MTB older rider I was constantly being pushed from behind by the younger stronger riders. With electric assist, I can better keep up with the flow and speed on the trail.
It is astonishing at how little progress has been made with disability access to public recreation.
I too want to experience wilderness access and if pedal assist helps my arthritic limbs get me there, it seems completely appropriate to me. Animals are not any more affected by my assisted access than they are by the younger stronger riders.
Most of the trails are on public land. I think there has to be a valid and clear reason to exclude any group of people from using a particular area of public land. This can include safety or damage to the environment from overuse. There are some areas in the west where horses are excluded because of their trail impact, and the same with motorized vehicles. As far as I know, there hasn’t been any solid evidence that e-bikes are more damaging than regular bikes to the trails and some evidence to the contrary.
No group of users has a greater right to use the trails than another group as long as safety and environmental impact are taken into account, in my opinion.
Certainly overuse might be a problem down the road. It might also be a problem without e-bikes depending on the popularity of mountain biking. Personally I do not think this is necessarily a bad thing, because I don’t want areas where I can hike or bike turned into housing developments or shopping malls. I have a friend involved in a small trail system and she continually has to prove the worth of that trail system to the city developers, some of whom want to build on it. That worth depends on the number of people using it. Most of the developers don’t care a rat’s ass about having green areas for their own sake.
In Montana some of the rivers have had conflicts (especially between fishers who float and those who wade) from overcrowding. Currently the state manages that problem on sections of the Big Hole river by limiting the number of days per week outfitters can float different sections, and on the Smith river by issuing floating permits (there is a 65 mile section not accessible other than by floating) to limit the number of floaters. The public seems to accept these restrictions since the quality of experience on the rivers is so much better. If overcrowding occurred in a trail area from overuse similar limits could be used – some trails could be limited to hiking only on even days and biking on odd days, for example, or variations of the above. It doesn’t need to be a zero sum game as long as folks are willing to compromise.
My point is that regular bikers do not have a greater right to the use of public areas than other users. If we work together the contentious issues should be able to be sorted out hopefully to mutual satisfaction and benefit.
I think at a very least Class 1 and 2 eBikes should be allowed for handicapped riders and senior citizens. You might allow electric wheeled transport in places you don’t allow mountain bikes at all for those groups.
Beyond that, I think you have to look at it on a case by case basis based on trail maintenance and use conflicts. I think there needs to be more data, but where a particular use poses no special concerns I think it should be allowed.
Ahead, I don’t worry about being ahead. I want to see the original intent of the Wilderness Act reinstated. The Act that afforded the human powered exploration of our wild lands to be experienced. For me, “ahead” doesn’t mean keeping other human powered users out, it means enjoying the backcountry under my own power. Keep on keeping on…
Jon, the original intent of the Wilderness Act is clear.
What part of “no other form of mechanical transport”
don’t you understand.
Many say the line – “no motors, means no motors”. Yes, this legislation came about in a not too far distant past where motors meant throttles, and throttles meant throttle abuse. Fast forward to our current time and now we have a much different scenario. Motors can now be use in a myriad of applications and is no longer subject to throttle abuse on single track trails and national parks. Instead motors on class 1 eMTBs function like extra gearing but where gears are physically impossible to lower any further, the assistance of a motor gives you a bit more help. Class 1 (peddle assist) ebikes are are just one more evolution toward mountain bike tech that makes the ride a more functional ride just like have a rear suspension or even a derailer so that shifting is possible. Could you imagine living in a world where derailers and suspension pieces were not allowed on numerous trails and national parks? Image if some hardcore mountain bike rider who has always rode a single gear hard tail saying, “well, with suspension and the ability to gear down makes riders want to be Evel Knievel on the trails and ride too hard and jump things. That will obviously destroy the trails and the environment and just think how unsafe that will be for everyone else.” Because, that is basically what those who are against class 1 ebikes are saying.
To clarify, I am only in support of class 1 eMTBs on single tracks and national parks. I do not have an opinion on class 2 but I definitely don’t believe class 3 should be allowed. I have a regular mountain bike and a class 1 eMTB and class 1 is simply a slightly more advanced take on the traditional mountain bike. Class 1 mountain bikes have a much closer connection to regular mountain bikes than class 2 and class 3.
I agree with Dustin. When “no motorized vehicles” became a standard for trail users, it was a convenient shorthand for motorcycles, trucks, jeeps, etc. Those vehicles were known to be loud, to emit exhaust, sometimes leak oil/coolant/lubricants, and to damage trails and roads (especially trucks and jeeps, which are heavy and can lose traction, causing major ruts). EMTBs are new and emerged long after the “no motorized vehicles” concept was implemented. They don’t share any characteristics with the targeted “motorized vehicles,” except that they have a motor. Technology is changing so fast these days that it’s hard to update rules and regulations. Consider texting while driving, or the use of cellphones in restaurants and on airplanes. So I’m in favor of Class 1 eMTBs. I ride one, and I have not received any negative comments on the trails since I bought it in late 2018. However, chat boards and forums are full of nasty comments. Also a byproduct of rapid technological change…
Obviously, as they become more discrete and powerful, ebikes will blur the line between mountain bikes and motorcycles.
If handicapped access to mountain bike trails is what you are now advocating, then that’s a different issue.
I am pretty new to mountain biking but have ridden dirt bikes offroad for the last 20 years and the one thing that really stands out with MTBers is how much time they spend maintaining trails (dirt bikers don’t do trail days). As more and more dirt bike riding areas get shut down or taken over by MTBers (it happened in my back yard, Greer Ranch) it seems like eMTBs (or electric dirt bikes) will be a good substitute for those looking for new riding areas. I’m curious how much time “old school” MTBers are going to be putting in maintaining the blown out berms and rutted downhill sections after the guys on the Fat Downhill eMTBS (they’re coming) shred all weekend long, cause you know the ebike crowd won’t be there.
I wouldn’t paint all Motos with such a broad brush, here in idaho and in Montana there is a long history of moto maintenance. Hundreds, if not thousands, of snags and downed trees are cleared every spring by groups of riders carrying chainsaws on those backs. Many trails would have been overgrown and lost without those folks. Just take a stroll into most Wildneress Areas and you’ll see how quickly al but a few trails have disappeared, only the heaviest used trails survive.
Jon, there’s certainly moto riders who go out and maintain their favorite trails every now and again. Even here in So Cal we have some hidden spots (usually illegal riding areas) that get a little trail care, but the vast majority of the legal riding areas all get heavy use and are ridden to to the brink of destruction until they’re shut down. As you point out, trails in Idaho and Montana go away with little use; i’m pointing out that trails with heavy use go away too, or at least cease to be fun. Our MTB trails get a lot of use too (perfect weather year round and all), but they also get a lot of maintenance from those that ride them. I’m not just talking about removing fallen trees and cutting back brush (all groups that utilize trails do that, even equestrians), but smoothing braking bumps, filling in ruts, and repacking blown out berms regularly. eMtbs are relatively tame at this stage, but as the batteries and technology get better so will they. In fact, it wont be too long until they’re awesome, and affordable. Once that happens it wont be 3 mile long flow sections that need to be maintained, it will be 50 mile loops that will be blown to crap like every other overused singletrack moto trail out there. And who’s gonna want to maintain that.
Actually, if taken strictly, no other form of mechanical transport, would also preclude cross country skis, boats with mechanical oarlocks, snowshoes with mechanically pivoting bindings, etc. The fact that these items were never questioned is one of the many levels of proof that the word mechanical here was, in accordance with the usage of the day, meant to preclude motorized, artificially powered things, not any low impact, human powered things. Wilderness is set aside for conservation and primitive recreation, and Congress went so far as to list cycling as primitive recreation, right alongside hiking and horseback riding.
So John, if you want to take strictly, perhaps you should be lobbying for the removal of “cross country skis, boats with mechanical oarlocks, snowshoes with mechanically pivoting bindings, etc” from Wilderness Areas instead of lobbying for having Mountain bikes in Wilderness Areas. The fact is that the reason that those items are including in Wilderness Areas are they were first used before the mechanical age, so they are not considered to be mechanical. So, your little theory is completely wrong.
And, exactly where did “Congress went so far as to list cycling as primitive recreation, right alongside hiking and horseback riding.” I hope you are not referring to the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness Act. Because, obviously, there was a National Recreation Area included with that Act.
Again, there he is not providing anything convincing. Keep up the effort though, you are succeeding in losing support… What’s his (after a good lobby and amendment) is his, don’t dare question the amendment!
So far, Jo, you have not provide 1 iota of information to support your views.
You should have stopped when you were ahead.
Yes, the legislation that includes MTBs covers both a Wilderness area and a NRA.
There is one paragraph covering each. MTBs appear in the paragraph covering the Wilderness area, not the NRA… and therein it specifically calls bikes a Wilderness one, and primitive recreation…. in the Wilderness portion of the bill.
As usual, Todd the troll seems to be having some difficulty getting out of his mom’s basement.
John, the Wilderness Act was the major legislation.
Some flowery wording in a minor bill does not usurp the Wilderness Act
And you forgot to mention the paragraph where the Rattlesnake National Recreation
and Wilderness Act of 1980 says “the Rattlesnake Wilderness as
designated by this Act shall be administered by the Secretary of
Agriculture, hereafter referred to as the Secretary, in accordance
with the provisions of the Wilderness Act”
In other words, “no other form of mechanical transport” applies.
John seems to be having difficulty getting his head out of his tail.
Yawn…. t”man”, can you find some original material? Your head seems to be someplace dark, maybe up your tail as you like to say. Your continual repetitive talking points are worn slam out. The same tired response to so many comments, it really is like a bad rerun. Please, find something to say that might resemble a fresh thought? Dig deep and find some retort that might say someone’s opinion.
Well, Jon, at least I back up my comments with real quotes.
I’m still waiting for you to give us the link to the LBJ speech.
Maybe you should do that instead of continuing to make
nonsensical comments.
Again, yawn…. your quotes are just as real as the others on this thread.