Cape Cod National Seashore is among the units of the National Park System expanding access for eBikes/NPS
Owners of eBike are gaining more access in the National Park System, as parks are changing their rules under order from Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
Here's a look at some of the recent parks that expanded eBike access:
New River Gorge National River, Gauley River National Recreation Area, and Bluestone National Scenic River (West Virginia)
"The use of eBikes, in compliance with applicable adopted state law will be allowed on park roads opened to motor vehicle use (classes 1, 2, and 3). eBikes will now be allowed the Stone Cliff Trail (classes 1 and 2 only). Due to public safety concerns, eBikes will not be allowed on other trails where traditional bikes are currently allowed."
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio)
"The (superintendent's compendium now includes authorization to allow class 1 and class 2 eBikes on all routes open to traditional bicycles, including the Towpath Trail and its connector trails. Class1 and class 2 eBikes provide assistance to the operator only up to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 eBikes which can provide assistance up to 28 miles per hour are not allowed on park trails."
Additionally, the park will maintain its prohibition of eBikes on the East Rim mountain bike trails.
As part of the park’s outreach on this issue, the public was invited to comment on how the new eBike policy may affect current conditions. Of 146 comments received, 102 raised concerns about speed already being too high on the towpath.
“While the park has been educating trail users on towpath etiquette for some time, we were struck by the degree to which this continues to be an issue for users,” Superintendent Craig Kenkel said. “We really can and should do more. We are announcing a 15 mph speed limit for all bicycles on the bicycle trails with a limit of 5 mph in blind curves and while crossing bridges and boardwalks.”
Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)
Cape Cod National Seashore will allow eBikes along with traditional bicycles on park bicycle trails and fire roads.
Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado-Utah)
"Visitors to Dinosaur National Monument will be allowed to use eBikes where traditional bicycles are allowed. Bicycles and eBikes are allowed on paved and unpaved roads that are open to the public. Bicycles and eBikes are not allowed on any trails in the monument. There are no charging stations in the monument. This change in eBike policy applies to private and commercial use in the monument."
Mount Rainier National Park (Washington)
"eBikes are now allowed everywhere traditional bicycles are allowed in Mount Rainier National Park. This includes all park roads currently open to motor vehicles. eBikes possessing a motor of less than 750 watts (1 h.p) on which the motor only assists with pedal propulsion are permitted on roads and trails that are currently open only to bicycles, including the Westside Road to Klapache Point and the Carbon River Road from the Carbon River Entrance to Ipsut Creek Campground."
Comments
Thanks Kurt. Do you know how I can stay informed of requesta for public comments on this topic as it relateds to other federal lands (Including NPS) and requests for public comment on this topic that might arise if or when there are proposed changes to the CFR?
Thanks Kurt. Do you know how I can stay informed of requesta for public comments on this topic as it relateds to other federal lands (Including NPS) and requests for public comment on this topic that might arise if or when there are proposed changes to the CFR?
If and when any park, or the NPS as a whole, announces such comment period and sends out a release, we'll post it here. Unfortunately, it seems many parks are just doing what Interior told them to do: make changes to their compendium without seeking any public comment.
The only parks where I saw public comment sought was Cape Cod National Seashore and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Thank you!
Interesting comment and very cogent. There are some people who will push things to their limit. A heavy bike going down hill with the rider pedaling furiously can reach a high speed such that the rider loses control and can cause serious damage to the rider and others. Therefore, the need for speed limits and education. For people like that the addition of a motor increases the propensity to cause harm, hence the carnage on our highways caused by excessive speed that seems to respond only to overwhelming enforcement. NPS is unlikely to have the resources available to highway patrols, hence the need for limits on motors.
I am strongly not in favor of having e-bikes on the trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The wonderful towpath is flat, fairly narrow and e-bikes are not needed there. The combination of bikes, dog walkers and walkers in general will be a bad thing. Wonderful Acadia National Park with its historic carriage trails does not allow e-bikes and those trails are very wide. Plus visitors that rent bikes are often not experienced riders and giving them the speed behind an e-bike means these are accidents waiting to happen on the Towpath Trail especially. E-bikes have their place, but not on the trails in the Cuyahoga Valley NPS.