E-bike access debates have apparently adopted a lower profile in the last year or so after a flurry of ‘controversy’ type headlines in the wake of US National Parks indicating a move to greater e-bike access at the end of 2020.
However, as this Wired article points out, there are still flashpoints in the debate and the article focuses on four distinct examples – Nashville, Tennessee; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Moab, Utah; and New York City.
In Nashville ‘the controversy has focused on the city’s greenways, a system of linear parks and trails that stretch nearly 100 miles throughout the city…….“Motorized vehicles” have long been banned from the greenways—though ebike riders say enforcement has been scant.’ The ban is under review though, with a report due in the coming weeks.
Wired adds ‘A similar debate is playing out in New York, which legalized ebikes in 2020. The city’s Parks Department, however, says it can set its own rules and views ebikes as “motorized” vehicles that aren’t allowed on its popular paths and trails.’
In Grand County, Utah, controversy centred on allowing ebikes on one paved biking trail, despite some objections, whilst in Colorado Springs last summer saw the cancellation of a year long trial that would have allowed e-bikes on city-managed bike lanes.
Still, it appears such access wrangles are becoming rarer as most US states now recognise the three class model and people are grasping the reality that legally conforming e-bikes are not motorbikes and do little more damage than regular bikes – indeed the law equates e-bikes more with regular bikes than motorbikes (certainly in the case of class 1 and class 2 e-bikes at least).
Over in the UK where e-bikes are also pretty much allowed anywhere regular bikes are, there is still the occasional question raised and decisions to be made. In this unusual case, reported by the UK’s ebiketips, ‘The Verderers Court of the New Forest, which regulates and protects the interests of the area, has set aside extra time to decide whether or not to ban e-bikes from the forest’s 140 miles of cycle trails’ – despite the fact these are waymarked cycle trails already open to regular bikes.
Source link
