E-Bikers Make Claim For Retaining Access To US Forest Service Lands
One controversial issue in mountain bike policy currently is where electric-assisted mountain bikes should be allowed. The US Forest Service does not allow electric mountain bikes on every trail.
Many e-bike advocates are troubled by this. See the BlueRibbon Coalition's pitch for e-bike access below.
This issue is very complicated, and there are many good arguments on both sides, but one thing that first needs to be cleared up is the actual law. The US Forest Service does allow e-bikes on motorized trails, but most mountain bike trails are non-motorized. This means that you can ride an e-bike on public lands, just not on mountain bike trails within them.
The argument for e-bikes on public land is convincing. Electric advocates say that e-bikes allow people of all ability levels to go out and enjoy recreation. Crafting policy that lets people with physical disabilities recreate seems pretty clearcut and righteous.
With that said, the argument that e-bikes do not have more of an impact is more dubious. Though this reel says there are no studies to show that, it defies logic to say that bikes which are on average twice as heavy as their non-motorized counterparts will not have at least a little more of an impact.
Where the conversation should be is whether the additional impact is enough to rise to the level necessitating banning electric mountain bikes. In most of the areas I have ridden, the benefits of allowing e-bike access seem to outweigh the small costs.
A convincing argument on the side of banning e-bikes is the slippery slope. Though the slippery slope is written off as a fallacy by some, there have been far too many examples of Surron riders pretending to be e-bikes on mountain bike trails to not be concerned about who might push through the door once it is opened a crack.
Related: "Those Are Illegal Here"- Mountain Biker Confronts Electric Bike Riders
Hopefully, the forest service can come to a compromise that allows e-bike riders to recreate while keeping public lands in good condition.
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