eBike USFS Designates E-Bikes “Motorized Vehicles”

[Philpug]

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 21, 2022—The U.S. Forest Service issued final directives clarifying e-bike definitions and use management on National Forest System lands. Per the directive, all e-bikes, including Class 1 pedal-assist-only e-bikes, are now classified as motorized vehicles.

As such, e-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized trails unless those trails undergo a NEPA process for redesignation.

The change will not impact ski area constructed and maintained trails within special permit boundaries, noted National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) director of public policy Geraldine Link in the organization’s latest Capitol Watch newsletter. “However,” Link advised, “ski areas that have an NFS trail inside their permit boundary or connecting NFS trails outside their boundary should be aware that the ‘seamless experience’ that NSAA advocated for in our comments was not achieved with this new policy.”

Full article here:

USFS Designates E-Bikes “Motorized Vehicles” - Ski Area Management

SAM Magazine—Washington, D.C., April 21, 2022—The U.S. Forest Service issued final directives clarifying e-bike definitions and use management on National Forest System lands. Per the directive, all e-bikes, including Class 1 pedal-assist-only e-bikes, are now classified as motorized vehicles. As...

www.saminfo.com

 

[cantunamunch]

<-knows several rangers whose jobs just got complicateder.

 

[scott43]

Well...they are... But we all know I've been banging that drum for a while..

 

[Ken_R]

I was gonna post a few things but I will just sit back, relax and read the upcoming posts. Need to get some popcorn.

 

[Andy Mink]

If people can't ride on the trails why should they volunteer to help maintain the trails? Our local bike trail group has a trail work day coming up next week. I was going to help out but why should I? It says "bring your bikes" so we can ride after the work. I get the decision as it relates to throttle enabled bikes but Class 1?

Last summer I rode the Peavine trails and no one ever had an issue with my e-bike. It was a conversation starter and several people who were considering one were interested. USFS has screwed up on this one.

 

[James]

Well...they are... But we all know I've been banging that drum for a while..

Does Montreal still allow electric scooters to use the bike lanes? We did that maybe 4 yrs ago. It was a blast. The guy renting tells us about the power setting “don’t put them on 3”. So of course the first thing is to turn them up. Went out to the island where the casino and race track are. Did drag races on the like 1/2 mile long gravel straight, kicking up huge clouds of dust. Bicyclists weren’t happy.

They barely lasted the hour and a half and had to push them back at the end. The guy wasn’t happy we used all the power. Not sure what he expected. After the second time, we switched to another place with 50cc Honda gas. Not as quick, but will never run out of fuel. But, you couldn't use the bike lanes.

 

[scott43]

I was gonna post a few things but I will just sit back, relax and read the upcoming posts. Need to get some popcorn.

 

[Philpug]

IMHO it is a step back, unfortunate and not good and very short sighted. I am actually very surprised.

 

[scott43]

Does Montreal still allow electric scooters to use the bike lanes? We did that maybe 4 yrs ago. It was a blast. The guy renting tells us about the power setting “don’t put them on 3”. So of course the first thing is to turn them up. Went out to the island where the casino and race track are. Did drag races on the like 1/2 mile long gravel straight, kicking up huge clouds of dust. Bicyclists weren’t happy.

They barely lasted the hour and a half and had to push them back at the end. The guy wasn’t happy we used all the power. Not sure what he expected. After the second time, we switched to another place with 50cc Honda gas. Not as quick, but will never run out of fuel. But, you couldn't use the bike lanes.

So my buddy is a regular Toronto police officer and he doesn't even know the rules. The traffic guys do apparently. As far as I know they are still a special case in the Ontario highway traffic act. They're allowed in bike lanes but not sidewalks or multi use trails.

 

[cantunamunch]

IMHO it is a step back, unfortunate and not good and very short sighted. I am actually very surprised.

Don't forget that NEPA dates back to LBJ's administration.

This is just another procedural step in evolving those laws to fit modern conditions. USFS don't have the remit to reinterpret NEPA on their own - and they're sticking to that.

The next procedural step is the CEQ.

Council on Environmental Quality | The White House

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) within the Executive Office of the President coordinates the federal government’s efforts to improve, preserve, and protect America’s public health and environment. CEQ, which was created in 1969 by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), advises...

www.whitehouse.gov

 

[scott43]

I do wonder how enforcement will go. Like, do they even have personpower to deal with this? TO cops basically can't be bothered/are too busy to worry about e-bike infractions. It's Traffic's job so they MAY issue tickets. They tried to mandate bicycle helmets for people over 18 and the cops said flat out they weren't going to enforce that.

 

[crgildart]

I'd wager that some of the rangers were riding EVs themselves..

 

[crgildart]

At the same time, the proliferation of e bikes probably now approaches how many gas dirt bikes they were having to chase away back in the 70s.. This is definitely much harder to enforce.. Gas bike exhaust can start fires too though..

 

[James]

I'd wager that some of the rangers were riding EVs themselves..

Using them in Africa to catch poachers.

How Cake electric bikes are helping combat poaching in Africa | Move Electric

www.moveelectric.com

 

[cantunamunch]

I do wonder how enforcement will go. Like, do they even have personpower to deal with this? TO cops basically can't be bothered/are too busy to worry about e-bike infractions. It's Traffic's job so they MAY issue tickets. They tried to mandate bicycle helmets for people over 18 and the cops said flat out they weren't going to enforce that.

I doubt it. In the immediate future I see this as mostly creating NEPA recert paperwork for established areas like Snowshoe.

Paper storm in a bureaucratic tea cup.

 

[Lauren]

I do wonder how enforcement will go. Like, do they even have personpower to deal with this? TO cops basically can't be bothered/are too busy to worry about e-bike infractions. It's Traffic's job so they MAY issue tickets. They tried to mandate bicycle helmets for people over 18 and the cops said flat out they weren't going to enforce that.

Not only do they have to have the man power to enforce it, but they have to have the manpower that knows what an e-bike looks like. Battery packs and motors are smaller and smaller...sometimes tough to really distinguish an e-bike from a "normal" bike.

Exhibit A:

 

[cantunamunch]

Not only do they have to have the man power to enforce it, but they have to have the manpower that knows what an e-bike looks like. Battery packs and motors are smaller and smaller...sometimes tough to really distinguish an e-bike from a "normal" bike.

IF this clarification sticks (I don't expect it to, not past the next presidency but one anyway) - there's no need for them to do random checks. Strava can do dv/ds for them.

So basically anyone remotely clever will make absolutely certain their ebike rides are private and off leaderboards.

 

[Andy Mink]

I guess I don't see what the big deal is with e assist (gotta pedal) bikes on bike/non-motorized trails. I'm doing no more damage than anyone on a non e bike. Can I go up faster? Sometimes, though I have been passed by good riders on analog bikes. Just like everything, a dick on an ebike will be a dick on an analog bike. Deal with the individual, not an entire group.

 

[crosscountry]

So basically anyone remotely clever will make absolutely certain their ebike rides are private and off leaderboards.

Most people aren't remotely clever!

If you can't brag about your ride on Strava, you haven't ridden!

 

[cantunamunch]

I guess I don't see what the big deal is with e assist (gotta pedal) bikes on bike/non-motorized trails. I'm doing no more damage than anyone on a non e bike. Can I go up faster? Sometimes, though I have been passed by good riders on analog bikes. Just like everything, a dick on an ebike will be a dick on an analog bike. Deal with the individual, not an entire group.

Laws and regulations don't work that way, and it's the only tool we've got to deal with tools.