Should electric bikes and perhaps electric scooters be allowed on the carriage roads at Acadia National Park?/Rebecca Latson file
A story caught my eye the other day. It centered on electric bikes, and where they can roam in the National Park System. The story centered around Acadia National Park in Maine and raised the prospect that e-bikes might one day be allowed to travel the park's iconic carriage roads. Is that a good idea?
For now, the park is blocking the motorized bikes from heading down the carriage roads, which are restricting to muscle-powered cyclists, hikers, and equestrian travelers. But the AP story adds that "new rules are expected in the coming weeks."
“I’m hoping that they’re going to come to reality,” said one of the cyclists interviewed by the AP. “This will get more popular as time goes on.”
Well, there are a lot of popular things out there, but do they all deserve access in the parks? Remember Segways? What about those electric scooters that are all the rage in metropolitan areas? Will they be next to seek access to trails and areas normally off-limits to motorized vehicles?
In Canada, a pilot program is under way to test e-bikes on trails in Jasper National Park.
"There's a lot of places in the national park that are accessible by bike but maybe not to the entire general public due to limitations on fitness, etc.," Marc Vien, sales manager at Jasper Source for Sports, told CBC News. "But those e-bikes allow people to get to those places easily."
Tell us, travelers, how much access in the National Park System should electric bikes have?
Comments
I think they should be allowed anywhere a bicycle is permitted.
Power ASSISTED e-bikes on the Acadia NP Carriage roads (note the second word, ASSISTED) should be allowed. These wonderful conveyances are primarily powered by the best of all power: human power. Pedaling is what makes them work. The Acadia Carriage Roads are mostly wide enough to accommodate a large range of users, and many of those unique roads are very hilly (Day Mountain, anyone?) which begs for the use of any kind of cycling assistance, especially the very kind of quiet boost that e-bikes provide. I'm hopeful that the NPS will do the right thing and bring their Acadia NP rules into the 21st century to allow e-bikes on the Carriage Roads. Hey, it should help get people out of their cars on the already congested Acadia roads.
I agree with allowing eBikes, requiring pedaling and no higher speed than 20 mph (I would change allowed mph to 15.). I am a member of aa volunteer "Bike Patrol" in one of our parks. This question has come up frequently and the colleagues that I've discussed it with agree.
Please allow pedal assist bikes with a top speed of 20mph.
I believe these are considered Class 1. These bikes enable
us to remain active as we age.
i rode mine on the carriage trails in Acadia about 4 yrs ago. I have a note from a Dr stating I need assistance due to a bad knee. I can go places with the assist that I could normally do and get exercise as well. They do a lot less damage than some mountain bikes do and are illegal over the speed of 20 mph
E-bikes should safely operate anywhere regular bikes may now travel. This means roadways and even off-road with other Mtn bikes. E-bikes don't do any more damage than regular bikes. It's about the behavior of the rider itself, not the technology.
I'm 61 with bad knees. Having an e-bike allows me to ride again. As other have said, Class 1 & 2 are limited to 20 mph (I get passed by regular bikes all the time) and they are quiet. I have ridden in several NPS and never caused an issue. There was a day when no cars were allowed in some parks, but they became allowed to give more people access. E-bikes are a lot less intrusive tha autos. Give us a chance and an even laying filed across all parks.
Studies are showing that ebikes aren't more dangerous and don't do more trail damage than non-electric bikes. They're not loud, and they don't pollute. Ebikes aren't faster than almost any rider can manage on a slight downhill. It's up to each rider to use good judgment regarding safety, and it's been my experience that ebikers are more cautious and more responsible than the average bicycle rider. I believe ebikes should be treated like regular bikes.