New Hampshire (or New England) Mountain Biking Trails

[Josh888]

I was checking to see if any of you have had any adverse experiences using your e-bike on New Hampshire (or New England) trails. We are looking to buy minimal pedal assist models, such as the trek firefly or specialized Levo. The laws are still under development here, but I’ve seen online that some mountain bikers take offense with technology that makes the sport more inclusive. We always ride respectfully, and I’m not keen on letting people with sensitive egos keep me and my family from these fun bikes. My local bike shop says that ebikes are allowed on all trails except a couple near Manchester, but I’m interested to hear some personal experiences.

 

[J.R.]

I was checking to see if any of you have had any adverse experiences using your e-bike on New Hampshire (or New England) trails. The laws are still under development here, but I’ve seen online that some mountain bikers take offense with technology that makes the sport more inclusive. We always ride respectfully, and I’m not keen on letting people with sensitive egos keep me and my family from these fun bikes. My local bike shop says that ebikes are allowed on all trails except a couple near Manchester, but I’m interested to hear some personal experiences.

Checkout this thread. Might be helpful.

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/new-england-emtbers.22771/

 

[LimboJim]

Checkout this thread. Might be helpful.

https://electricbikereview.com/forums/threads/new-england-emtbers.22771/

Thanks for the bump, JR!

 

[John from Connecticut]

I was checking to see if any of you have had any adverse experiences using your e-bike on New Hampshire (or New England) trails. We are looking to buy minimal pedal assist models, such as the trek firefly or specialized Levo. The laws are still under development here, but I’ve seen online that some mountain bikers take offense with technology that makes the sport more inclusive. We always ride respectfully, and I’m not keen on letting people with sensitive egos keep me and my family from these fun bikes. My local bike shop says that ebikes are allowed on all trails except a couple near Manchester, but I’m interested to hear some personal experiences.

Hello, CT eBike laws can be found here.......

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/fc/2018HB-05485-R000451-FC.htm

 

[JRA]

Hello, CT eBike laws can be found here.......

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/fc/2018HB-05485-R000451-FC.htm

• 1. A Class 1 e-bike's motor must operate only when the rider is peddling. The motor must disengage when the e-bike reaches 20 mph.
  2. A Class 2 e-bike's motor may be used exclusively to propel the e-bike (i.e., without peddling). The motor must disengage when the e-bike reaches 20 mph.
  3. A Class 3 e-bike's motor must operate only when rider is peddling.

So does that mean that drug dealers will be riding eBikes now to legalize their transactions?

Seriously I see the term above misused a lot here and other places, it actually is:

 

[LimboJim]

Hello, CT eBike laws can be found here.......

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2018/fc/2018HB-05485-R000451-FC.htm

Unfortunately, eMTBs on natural surfaces (trails) are excluded from being treated like "regular" bicycles, according to the summary (where the author thinks peddling is pedaling):

"E-bikes cannot be used, unless permitted by local ordinance, on bicycle or multiuse trails or paths designed for non-motorized traffic with a natural surface made by clearing and grading soil, without adding surfacing materials."

I bet NEMBA lobbied hard to get that in there; they want us relegated to ATV/motocross trails... Mmm, breathe deep the hydrocarbons

 

[Nutella]

Google wizardry

https://www.nemba.org/news/where-can-electric-mountain-bikes-be-ridden-new-england

 

[LimboJim]

Google wizardry

https://www.nemba.org/news/where-can-electric-mountain-bikes-be-ridden-new-england

NEMBA is not the final authority, though they like to think they are....