Nearly three months after some areas of Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio were opened to e-Bikes, park staff is reopening the public comment period on the expanded access for the motorized bikes.
The park will accept online comments until Monday, January 6, 2020.
In late August, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued an order to allow e-Bikes to use the same trails in the National Park System that are open to muscle-powered mechanical bikes.
The policy change came without public disclosure and without an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposal before it was implemented, moves that appear in conflict with the Code of Federal Regulations. The secretarial order called for the policy to be adopted "unless otherwise prohibited by law or regulation" within two weeks. It also called for public comment, after the fact, some time in the future.
There are three "classes" of eBikes:
* Class 1: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
* Class 2: eBikes that also have a maximum speed of 20 mph, but are throttle-assisted.
* Class 3: eBikes that are pedal-assist only, with no throttle, and a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph.
Park superintendents are able to tailor local regulations in consideration of safety, resource protection, or other conflicting uses. In October, Cuyahoga Valley sought public comment and announced a temporary local policy that includes allowing Class 1 and 2 e-Bikes where traditional bikes are already allowed, except for the East Rim Mountain Bike Trails.
The park's policy includes a speed limit of 15 mph on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, because 102 of the 146 comments received were related to concerns about speed and safety on the towpath.
The October announcement included plans for a second public comment period in December.
“We heard and appreciate the concerns expressed in the first round of comments. We were required to implement the policy but want to give our users another chance to comment before we finalize it in January 2020,” Cuyahoga Valley Superintendent Craig Kenkel said.
The park’s local policies are outlined in the Superintendent’s Compendium document. It is posted in its entirety in the Laws and Policies section of the park’s website.
Cuyahoga Valley encompasses 33,000 acres along the Cuyahoga River between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio. Managed by the National Park Service, the park combines cultural, historical, recreational, and natural activities in one setting.
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Comments
I am a 73 year old long time cyclist on both road and mtb bikes. It is my feeling that Class 1 ebikes should certainly be allowed at East Rim and any other "real" mountain bike trail. Class 1 and 2 on the tow path and other nulti-use trails. I don't believe class 3 ebikes with their 28 mph capability shuold be permitted anywhere but public roadways including the Bike and Hike trail system.
Totally against e-bikes being permitted wherever joggers, runners, walkers, hikers, and regular bikers travel. Not safe for kids on pedal bikes. Not safe for joggers and walkers. Already I feel that bikers on regular bikes go too fast and are unsafe. Adding e-bikes to the mix is just going to make it worse. The towpath trail especially should be for people who want to exercise and take in the Park at a natural pace. There is not enough room for everyone as it is on a nice day. E-bikers, go get on a motorcycle and stay off the trails. That's my comment!
I always enjoyed walking the trail leading to lock 39, before a path of asphalt was laid down. Last year I took a friend from out of state, and as we were walking the path groups of bikers riding side by side, going way to fast getting their cardic workout, almost knocked us down! We felt the bikers thought they had more rights to the path then we did. Now the park wants to include E-bikes! Back in the 1970s when I lived in Venice Beach, bikers and speed skaters would use the boardwalk. There were several accidents where elderly were injured, cause they could not get out of the way fast enough. Then the city built a separate path for the bikers and skaters. If CVNP allows for bikes they should put in another path or Racetrack for them. Why should we walkers and hikers have to dodge them!
As recent retirees my husband and I like to find new places to visit where we can pedal our bikes or paddle our canoes. Like a lot of seniors we love to visit national parks and forests, supporting the local economy when we do so. We switched to class 2 ebikes when our knees and backs could no longer handle the hills in NH. Everyone we know who uses an ebike does so because of physical limitations such as arthritis. Ebikes are heavy compared to the recreational bikes we rode years ago ... you're hauling around an extra 30 pounds of bike and battery combined ... 50 lbs. VS a 20 lb rec bike. These bikes are not the nimble bikes that kids like to jump or tear around in. They're not the fast road bikes that my son rides at 30+mph. They're limited to a 20mph max. They simply allow us to ride up hills and allow us to get further down the road or trail than we could otherwise. While I pedal my bike, the throttle allows me to get started even with my severely arthritic knee. Ebikes are just as safe as regular bikes when riders follow speed limits and other rules. The rules of the road make it possible for different types of vehicles to share the same space. That's a rational approach for bike paths as well. On our roads, speeding, driving under the influence, driving in an unsafe manner, these are the things that are illegal. Driving a sports car isn't the problem, it's how it's being driven. Please allow ebikes so we can visit YOUR park.