“We had a number of individuals who were requesting the use of e-bikes on natural surface trails (because) they had disabilities and weren’t able to recreate with a traditional pedal bicycle,”
Kudos for them looking to accommodate more people.
The policy change allows users of Class 1 e-bikes, which are pedal-assisted and can go up to 20 mph, on non-motorized, natural surface trails and pathways. It also allows Class 2 e-bikes, which are throttle- and pedal-assisted and can travel up to 20 mph, as long as cyclists have a permit from the state.
I live in an area that allows e-bikes on our trails. In areas that have posted speed limits (for cyclists), it’s usually 20 km/h (~12mph). I’d say that if I were to break down my own conflicts with other cyclists, 95% are on e-bikes and 5% are road bike users who don’t have a bell on their bike and will pass at high speed without warning.
Unfortunately, Michigan is going to see a lot of riders going 20 mph, because they can. E-bikes have made trails more hazardous for other riders, and pedestrians. It’s just a fact that anyone using trails can agree with.
I won’t say that we need to ban them, but how do you manage so many riders behaving badly and ruining it for everyone else?
how do you manage so many riders behaving badly and ruining it for everyone else?
Carry a jousting pole and hit them with it or stick it in their spokes. j/k
Seriously though, it’s a good question. I have a class 1 ebike I use for exercise, recreation, and commuting. I always use my bell when passing people, I always yield to pedestrians, and I don’t go 18-20mph near pedestrians. I would guess – based on my personal experiences – that at least 80% of ebike riders don’t follow these laws and considerations.
There isn’t anyone enforcing these rules on trails, so change only happens once people get hurt by the jerks on ebikes. Then it is going to be the ebikes getting banned instead of the actual jerks being dealt with. Are we going to hire trail cops to ticket dangerous bike riders?
Or is someone going to get fed up and stick a jousting pole into some jerk’s spokes.
Never mind a lack of enforcement for e-bike riders, we have MOTORCYCLES on our trails and gas-powered scooters and dirt bikes with “Ebike” plates riding wherever they want.
