Electric Bicycles will remain classified as motor vehicles according to PeopleForBikes, but new Forest Service guidance does offer new tools for land managers to determine electric bicycle access. On March 31, 2022, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) finalized guidance for electric bicycle access on National Forest System trails and grasslands. Electric bicycles will remain classified as motor vehicles, but local land managers can now recategorize trails from non-motorized to motorized to allow electric bicycle and e-mountain bike access, according to the non-profit group.
“Expanding opportunities for electric bicycle riders to access National Forest System trails is an important step forward,” said PeopleForBikes President and CEO Jenn Dice. “While we will continue to urge the U.S. Forest Service to reclassify Class 1 electric bicycles as non-motorized, we encourage local land managers to implement this guidance for more accessible, equitable and diverse electric bicycle ridership on our public lands.”
Specifically, this new guidance will:
• Establish new criteria for designating Class 1, 2 and 3 electric bicycles on National Forest System trails, roads and lands.
• Create specific criteria for designation of motor vehicle use on trails and guidance for designated electric bicycle use on trails. This includes an additional category (Trails Open to Electric Bicycles Only) to identify classes of motor vehicles on a motorized vehicle use map.
• Add an objective to consider emerging technologies, such as electric bicycles, that are changing the way people access and recreate on NFS lands.
PeopleForBikes remains a strong advocate for the reclassification of electric bicycles as non-motorized across federal public land jurisdictions. “Electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) offer a low impact, emissionless and quiet solution to helping more Americans enjoy the outdoors and our public lands,” she added. “Ample studies and pilot projects like that in the Tahoe National Forest show that Class 1 eMTBs and traditional mountain bikes are similar modes of recreation in terms of components, speed, impacts to trail and health benefits. Class 1 eMTB use does not create any different effects to singletrack trails or social experiences while riding.”
With the mission to get “more people riding bikes more often” the People For Bikes coalition is out to make bike riding better for everyone. Since 1999, PeopleForBikes has created a prominent place for bikes in transportation, mobility and recreation decisions at all levels of government. “We ensure bikes are prioritized and positioned as a real solution to improve Americans’ health, connect communities, boost local and state economies, strengthen our nation and protect our planet.”
Learn more here:
https://www.peopleforbikes.
