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The future of e-bikes in U.S. National Parks could be decided in the next few months (www.themanual.com)

submitted 1 year ago by hocus@kbin.social to c/ebikes@kbin.social

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Electric bike riding in U.S. National Parks is a contentious topic. Now the NPS wants to know what you think on whether they should be permanently banned?

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[–] insomniac_lemon@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I have health issues and hadn't rode a bike in a while until I got a compact (and 250w) ebike not long ago, have rode 100 miles now. If trails are off the table I may as well sell/trade my ebike (if someone would still want it here) as the roads near me are not bike friendly (and I don't even have a mirror). Not much around here, I made a 20-mile round-trip to the nearest tourist city and I definitely would not do that if I had to deal with cars+ditches+unshaded roads (especially as I lack cell service and thus mobile GPS for better routes).

Also I don't seem to see very many people on the trail and have been passed by actual cyclists a few times.

[–] AshDene@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you haven't, I strongly suggest making these comments in the NPS link. Environmental assessment processes really do care about things like the public actually being able to access the parks! Like most government processes they're going to evaluate material submitted to them, not material found in random places on the internet.

I'd phrase it as "allowing eBikes lets me benefit parks like this and gives me these benefits" and not "otherwise I might sell my ebike" because they care about public benefit, not about whether or not you own an ebike.

[–] insomniac_lemon@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I know and I've been thinking about it. I could write an essay about all the different aspects of this (including some stuff beyond the NPS like nuance of throttle and how it relates to classification) but also the question here seems to be a bit baseless at worst (or surron stigma etc), or maybe a "should we throw all ebikes under the bus because of road wear from the heaviest ones" that might give an overwhelming response in favor of ebikes (also because health issues etc).

Though I am surprised I haven't seen other people (like Area 13 or other ebike YTers) cover it so maybe not.

[–] megclaypool 1 points 1 year ago

Commented the following:

I strongly urge you to allow ebikes anywhere you allow unpowered bikes. This should be considered an issue of accessibility. As I get older, fatter, and less fit, I've been riding bikes less and less. However, the recent purchase of an ebike has reopened those opportunities for me. It allows me to bike distances I haven't considered in years. It also "flattens" the world for me -- no longer do hills in my path disincentivize me from setting out. Nor am I the only person in this position -- ebikes are empowering many people to explore the world around them in ways not possible on a non-motorized bike.

My ebike assists me in achieving speeds up to 25mph (theoretically -- I'm pretty sure their test riders were all lighter and fitter than me!). Depending on the road or trail on which I'm riding, that could be a ludicrously unsafe speed, both for me and the people around me. Naturally, I have to use my best judgement to choose a safe speed. However, this same judgement is exercised by those on regular bikes -- even an unpowered bicycle is a marvelously efficient machine, and I am frequently passed by fitter riders on unpowered bikes.

Ebikes cause no more wear on trails then regular bikes. Forbidding ebikes would certainly decrease wear on trails, simply because fewer riders would be able to use the trails. However, deliberately limiting park access to those fit enough to ride unpowered bikes seems rather contrary to the goal of sharing nature with the general public.

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