The four of us local ebikers attended the Rail Trail Authority's May monthly meeting and as I suspected these board members were very nice, friendly neighbors. We were greeted warmly and invited to share about ourselves prior to the meeting. We have deep ties to the community and all have done volunteer work to one degree or another. We have a lot in common with the members of the board.
A little of the back story of ebiking in Pennsylvania. In 2014 ebikes were officially legalized here. Early for a U.S. state to specifically legalize modern ebikes. The law was simple: 750 watts, 20 MPH max speed, assist by PAS or throttle. Pretty much followed the Fed CPSC regs. Ebikes within those regs are not motorized vehicles, and can ride anywhere a bicycle can ride as of 2014. At the time every trail, path and road in the state where bikes can ride, ebikes were allowed and a local municipality that wanted to restrict them, they had to pass laws or regulation specifically to do so. The good old days.
We were off and riding! Our
Heritage Rail Trail is a wonderful place to ride. A lot of history on those rails, which
continues today. The four of us ebikers were members of the Sunset Scramblers, a weekly social ride during the warmer months of the year. There were a few off putting "jokes" made at our expense about "cheating", but 99% of the riders didn't care. Most often comments originated from one rider and sometimes his sidekick. It was a social event, not a competition in any way. Very often it was the ebiker that rode with the slow, less able rider to make sure they made it; or stopped to repair a bike, because we were willing to carry the tools. We had the spare water too. All was well, so we thought.
The first sign something might be wrong was last spring when one of our group of four was kicked out of a county park at the northern trail head by a Ranger. He said ebikes were banned in the park. After a little searching we found new park regulations were adopted the previous fall. The only thing that came close to describing an ebike was in the section for motor vehicles.
View attachment 33353
https://yorkcountypa.gov/images/pdf/Parks/2017_rules_and_reg_final1.pdf
We felt this did not apply to pedelecs, as they are not "self propelled". And since state law legalized ebikes to be considered bikes, allowed to ride anywhere bikes are allowed unless specifically excluded, we felt good to go.
Our concern today is that maybe the parks department thought they banned ebikes with these new regulations. Sure one could argue in court that the wording is incorrect if trying to ban pedelecs, but we all know what a pain that could be. If the Park Rangers are told to fine us, the fine is $800.00 and even if you choose to fight the ticket, that $800 has to be posted immediately as bail. You get it back if you win.
What has made this situation harder to take is it appears two riders from our weekly social ride are pushing this "ban", to the point of making public, official looking pronouncements on social media. We only have circumstantial evidence that those two are responsible for the current push, and I don't want a personal war with someone we thought was a friend. I believe we can and will win this fight. I don't believe park regulations "legally" ban ebikes. We'll fight the issue, not the people.
As for the Rail Trail Authority, they do not have control over park regulations, that's the Parks Department's purview. We did share out stories, concerns and views on the issue and they are in support of allowing class one ebikes. So supportive that the Authority Chairman said they will support us in this with the Parks Department Board. They want to be kept informed.
Thanks from us to this forum community for your support in this. We are working on our next move and will keep
you informed.
