Howdy from the 505!
I've been an ebike rider since 2016 in ABQ (Radrover and Radcity). Unless something has changed recently, Class I & II with 20 mph max speed ebikes have all the same rights and privileges as pedal bikes on the share the road with cars bike lanes, being able to ride your (e)bike on public sidewalks, and sharing non motorized paths with walkers, joggers, horses, or wheelchair users. I think the only restriction are for Class III ebikes that can go up to 28 mph and having to stick to share the road bike lanes with cars (keeping your Class III under 20 mph would get you back on bike only paths). The wife and I ride all the time up/down the paved and dirt paths along the Rio Grande river. We ride our ebikes around neighborhoods, to Balloon Fiesta park for that event, Rail Yard/Farmer's Markets, or 4th of July fireworks. No issues riding my fat tire ebike in the Sandi foothills and a few trips to Santa Fe to ride. We are usually around 12-17 mph on the bike paths; but, still slower than those "Tour de France" looking pedal bike speed riders zipping down the path alone or in packs.
Having an ebike is the way to go if you want to ride all year since the weather is pretty good in winter (usually dry and cold). I found I can ride my ebike on the super windy spring days that would sideline a pedal bike. Riding my ebike at 15-20 mph really helps cool me off way better with less overheating when summer time temp are 95-105 degrees F.
I was about the only ebike rider back in 2016 and started to ebike commute at 50-70 miles per week to work after 2017. The pandemic stopped that; but, I might start to work commute by ebike this summer. I now see around +/- 30% of the bikes riding the Rio Grande paths are ebikes. I also have a mid-drive Himiway Cobra Pro if you have any question about rear hub -vs- mid drive.
