Also, the Forest Service is allowing e-bikes on the Hiawatha. You can rent a Rad Rover for the trails in Wallace.
No motorized vehicles allowed
- Thread starter net200777
- Start date
some thoughts:
1. What if you turn of the motor ether by turning the whole system of or just setting it to off and use the odometer? I would assume that it suddenly turn to a non electric bike for all legal purposes?
2. at least in Europe all ebikes with a max of 25 km/h are considered bikes with the same rules and responsibilities as to any other bike and max 45 km/h e-bikes are considered mopeds.
P.s. john peck I really like your gas powered bike, I am thinking about building something similar to see if I can challenge the stupid EU rules about max 25 km/h being bikes, I go faster then that with my non electric bike but can't hold it for as long. Apparently some people locally buy the max 45 km/h bikes de-register them and removing the plates, and then just ride around on it like it was a max 25 km/h bike
1. What if you turn of the motor ether by turning the whole system of or just setting it to off and use the odometer? I would assume that it suddenly turn to a non electric bike for all legal purposes?
2. at least in Europe all ebikes with a max of 25 km/h are considered bikes with the same rules and responsibilities as to any other bike and max 45 km/h e-bikes are considered mopeds.
P.s. john peck I really like your gas powered bike, I am thinking about building something similar to see if I can challenge the stupid EU rules about max 25 km/h being bikes, I go faster then that with my non electric bike but can't hold it for as long. Apparently some people locally buy the max 45 km/h bikes de-register them and removing the plates, and then just ride around on it like it was a max 25 km/h bike
Slappy
New Member
It makes little sense to place trail rules based on "motorized" or "non-motorized". Safety to other riders and pedestrians should be the goal. If you are going to regulate vehicles on trails, do it by size/weight and set rules around speed. That way there is no nebulous questions about what is "motorized" or not.
Handlebars
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
xacly! motorized wheelchairs are hardly a threat.
wheelchairs and handicapped devices are specifically excluded from the motorized vehicle definition.
Handlebars
Well-Known Member
- Region
- Canada
Time to recognize ebikes as agedness handicap devices. Just look at the % of codgers onsite here !
Browneye
Well-Known Member
That would make sense, however laws generally don't require common sense to be enacted. LOL
California has a lot of trails - the popular areas frequented by a lot of mountain bikers, where ebikes are not specifically allowed, are where the conflicts arise. Regular mountain bikers REALLY don't want ebikes on 'their' trails. And the USFS still classifies ebikes as 'motorized vehichles' and thus are prohibited on hiking and biking trails. BLM and Federal Parks have opened up their areas to ebikes, except where specifically prohibited. This followed the order that came down from Washington DC last year.
The less popular areas are simply not ridden much, nor patrolled, so you can get away with riding an ebike in those areas. If LEO catches you, or someone complains, you may well get a citation, or simply be asked to leave the area.
And all of the routes and trails that ARE open to motorized - ATV's and motorcycles - allow ebikes. So lots of USFS routes are included in this - thousands of miles.
What is sad to me, is the push-back from mountain bikers on ebikes. I get it, they've lobbied and worked hard to get access to hiking and equestrian trails, and their fear is not so much the Class-1 ebikes, but the people that will take Class 3 and more and ride them like motorcycles. And any area where they have access that is not specifically allowed, more like grandfathered use, that is at risk of shutting down, the fear that ebikes will exacerbate that risk is real.
OTOH, all of the arguments for noise and speed are hogwash - simply defenses. The fear is for people that will abuse their access with over-watted bikes and risky behaviors.
I'm on the cusp of buying a pedal mountain bike for those trails where ebikes are prohibited. It just opens up new riding opportunities and access. Best of both worlds. Besides, I can get wifey to haul my a$$ up the mountain in the pickup so I can ride a pedal bike down.
reed scott
Well-Known Member
That would make sense, however laws generally don't require common sense to be enacted. LOL
California has a lot of trails - the popular areas frequented by a lot of mountain bikers, where ebikes are not specifically allowed, are where the conflicts arise. Regular mountain bikers REALLY don't want ebikes on 'their' trails. And the USFS still classifies ebikes as 'motorized vehichles' and thus are prohibited on hiking and biking trails. BLM and Federal Parks have opened up their areas to ebikes, except where specifically prohibited. This followed the order that came down from Washington DC last year.
The less popular areas are simply not ridden much, nor patrolled, so you can get away with riding an ebike in those areas. If LEO catches you, or someone complains, you may well get a citation, or simply be asked to leave the area.
And all of the routes and trails that ARE open to motorized - ATV's and motorcycles - allow ebikes. So lots of USFS routes are included in this - thousands of miles.
What is sad to me, is the push-back from mountain bikers on ebikes. I get it, they've lobbied and worked hard to get access to hiking and equestrian trails, and their fear is not so much the Class-1 ebikes, but the people that will take Class 3 and more and ride them like motorcycles. And any area where they have access that is not specifically allowed, more like grandfathered use, that is at risk of shutting down, the fear that ebikes will exacerbate that risk is real.
OTOH, all of the arguments for noise and speed are hogwash - simply defenses. The fear is for people that will abuse their access with over-watted bikes and risky behaviors.
I'm on the cusp of buying a pedal mountain bike for those trails where ebikes are prohibited. It just opens up new riding opportunities and access. Best of both worlds. Besides, I can get wifey to haul my a$$ up the mountain in the pickup so I can ride a pedal bike down.
I think the old saying used to be, " As goes California, so goes the US". Or something to that effect. I think that has changed. Hopefully. People are starting to realize that a state that can't even keep its power grid up or manage it's forests ... may not exactly be an exemplar of solid policy.
Browneye
Well-Known Member
And why it's residents are leaving in droves.
As soon as I can retire we're leaving. I can build a brand new home on acreage in a neighboring state for half of what I have in a 50yo dump here. But it has a pool.
eBikes are allowed in the county parks where I live, but some of the signage still says "no motorized vehicles". They need to update those signs because ebike restrictions have changed in recent years.
FlatSix911
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Silicon Valley
It's better to ask for forgiveness than permission... works for me!
J.R.
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Piedmont Highlands
Ebikes that fall within the state's regulations are not motorized vehicles.
Asking for forgiveness can work for the one ebiker. Asking for permission can work for all ebikers. The more the regulators know the taxpayers want it, the better it is for all of us.
Asking for forgiveness can work for the one ebiker. Asking for permission can work for all ebikers. The more the regulators know the taxpayers want it, the better it is for all of us.
Unfortunately we have some Karen's here that don't know the difference (or the ebike laws).
john peck
Well-Known Member
Here in Washington ebikes are the same as regular bikes & subject to the same laws. You
are still expected to behave in a safe, considerate manner.
AleksR
Active Member
That would make sense, however laws generally don't require common sense to be enacted. LOL
California has a lot of trails - the popular areas frequented by a lot of mountain bikers, where ebikes are not specifically allowed, are where the conflicts arise. Regular mountain bikers REALLY don't want ebikes on 'their' trails. And the USFS still classifies ebikes as 'motorized vehichles' and thus are prohibited on hiking and biking trails. BLM and Federal Parks have opened up their areas to ebikes, except where specifically prohibited. This followed the order that came down from Washington DC last year.
The less popular areas are simply not ridden much, nor patrolled, so you can get away with riding an ebike in those areas. If LEO catches you, or someone complains, you may well get a citation, or simply be asked to leave the area.
And all of the routes and trails that ARE open to motorized - ATV's and motorcycles - allow ebikes. So lots of USFS routes are included in this - thousands of miles.
What is sad to me, is the push-back from mountain bikers on ebikes. I get it, they've lobbied and worked hard to get access to hiking and equestrian trails, and their fear is not so much the Class-1 ebikes, but the people that will take Class 3 and more and ride them like motorcycles. And any area where they have access that is not specifically allowed, more like grandfathered use, that is at risk of shutting down, the fear that ebikes will exacerbate that risk is real.
OTOH, all of the arguments for noise and speed are hogwash - simply defenses. The fear is for people that will abuse their access with over-watted bikes and risky behaviors.
I'm on the cusp of buying a pedal mountain bike for those trails where ebikes are prohibited. It just opens up new riding opportunities and access. Best of both worlds. Besides, I can get wifey to haul my a$$ up the mountain in the pickup so I can ride a pedal bike down.
Seems to me that education is missing. Fear of ebikes is irrational when I get passed by acoustic bikes going 30 mph. Education, education, education.
reed scott
Well-Known Member
There is hope.Similar threads
