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This distinction is becoming a big problem in our local mountain biking community. Most of us really wouldn’t mind if people who needed a little extra help (ol

This distinction is becoming a big problem in our local mountain biking community. Most of us really wouldn’t mind if people who needed a little extra help (older people, injured people, people new to the sport) were riding bikes that provided a small assist to help out with the hills. It’s actually great to see older people being able to ride again with some help from a motor, for example. But instead, we’re seeing a lot of e-bike builders abusing the concept to hack or build bikes that are basically electric motorcycles. It gets old fast when your local mountain bike trail is now crowded with kids motoring up the mountain on their modified e-bikes without even pretending to pedal. It’s even worse when they end up deep into trails they’re not qualified to ride with a dead battery and no natural ability to pedal back out. The end result has been a blanket ban on e-bikes on most trails and a lot of animosity toward e-bikes. I wish there was a better compromise, but after watching all of the dumb outcomes play out on my local trails from a small handful of people abusing the concept, I understand why it had come to this.

swader999 5y ago
Do bans work? I could probably build a bike that you really couldn't tell unless you took it apart.
- PragmaticPulp 5y ago
  Partially. My local trail bans e-bikes and off-leash dogs, but I still run into both on a regular basis. Occasionally there will be someone waiting at the trailhead writing tickets to people who come off the trail with an e-bike or an off-leash dog. This seems to work as word spreads through Facebook groups and people stay away. Also generates some decent revenue when someone can write tickets for an hour and hand out a couple thousand dollars in fines for blatant violations (they stand right next to the very clear signage at the trailhead)
- ip26 5y ago
  If it's indistinguishable from a regular bike, it's probably not one of the 1500kW bikes their organization had a problem with.
  - eMPee584 5y ago
    1500kW bike, that's a beast.. with wings and a pocket fusion engine, I presume .. xD
    - dd36 5y ago
      It powers the neighborhood.
dstroot 5y ago
58 year old MTB’er here. I was looking forward to getting an eMTB in a few years to keep riding. Feels like the window is closing as many place around me ban eBikes for the same reasons you describe. It’s going to be pretty disappointing if I can only ride at the “eBike Park” full of kids on Sur Rons (basically an electric dirt bike). Oh well, I can still ride for now.
- aaronblohowiak 5y ago
  if you get your doctor to right you a note, it can be an assistive device which is not covered by a ban. i am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, but i am middle-aged.
  - shkkmo 5y ago
    I think if this is true it highly depends on who owns and mamages the land. I am pretty sure this is not currently true on almost all US National Forest land. Anything with a motor qualifies as for motor vehicle there and you will only be allowed on trails marked for motorized use on the MVUM maps. This includes mobility devices

swader999 5y ago

Do bans work? I could probably build a bike that you really couldn't tell unless you took it apart.

PragmaticPulp 5y ago
Partially. My local trail bans e-bikes and off-leash dogs, but I still run into both on a regular basis. Occasionally there will be someone waiting at the trailhead writing tickets to people who come off the trail with an e-bike or an off-leash dog. This seems to work as word spreads through Facebook groups and people stay away. Also generates some decent revenue when someone can write tickets for an hour and hand out a couple thousand dollars in fines for blatant violations (they stand right next to the very clear signage at the trailhead)
ip26 5y ago
If it's indistinguishable from a regular bike, it's probably not one of the 1500kW bikes their organization had a problem with.
- eMPee584 5y ago
  1500kW bike, that's a beast.. with wings and a pocket fusion engine, I presume .. xD
  - dd36 5y ago
    It powers the neighborhood.

dstroot 5y ago

58 year old MTB’er here. I was looking forward to getting an eMTB in a few years to keep riding. Feels like the window is closing as many place around me ban eBikes for the same reasons you describe. It’s going to be pretty disappointing if I can only ride at the “eBike Park” full of kids on Sur Rons (basically an electric dirt bike). Oh well, I can still ride for now.

aaronblohowiak 5y ago
if you get your doctor to right you a note, it can be an assistive device which is not covered by a ban. i am not a lawyer, this is not legal advice, but i am middle-aged.
- shkkmo 5y ago
  I think if this is true it highly depends on who owns and mamages the land. I am pretty sure this is not currently true on almost all US National Forest land. Anything with a motor qualifies as for motor vehicle there and you will only be allowed on trails marked for motorized use on the MVUM maps. This includes mobility devices