We’re making biking better in Utah through funding local bike projects, supporting pro-bike policies and legislation at the local and state levels and highlighting great hometown routes on Ride Spot. At the local level, we rallied support for the Mid-Valley Active Transportation Network Plan, which created better options for residents and visitors to get around Salt Lake City’s mid-valley communities safely by providing regional connections between communities for walking, biking, scooters, and public transportation. In 2017, we helped fund community engagement for the Folsom Trail, a multi-use path extending from Provo to Ogden and to the Salt Lake City central business district. 

Every day, individuals are discovering the many benefits of electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) — they allow more individuals to get out and ride, regardless of their age or physical or cognitive abilities. Electric mountain bikes provide a needed boost to make climbing hills easier and going longer distances require less effort.

As eMTB technology evolves, more and more riders are asking themselves, “Where can I ride my eMTB?” Unfortunately, the answer is not always clear. Many state resource agencies lack modern-day regulations that govern electric bicycle use on natural surface and non-motorized trails. These outdated rules confuse many riders who are simply looking to ride their low-speed eMTB in the same places as traditional mountain bikes.

PeopleForBikes believes that electric bicycles are very similar to bicycles, and their rules and use should be similarly regulated. Modern day electric bicycle regulations have already been adopted in 28 states’ traffic codes thanks to legislators and advocates who saw the need to seamlessly modernize their policies to reflect the needs of today’s riders.

When it comes to off-road trail access for electric bicycles, governed by rules and regulations within state natural resource agencies, PeopleForBikes supports the adoption of electric bicycle rules that define three classes of electric bicycles and, at a minimum, allow Class 1 electric bicycles on non-motorized, natural surface trails that permit bicycle use. State resource agencies with regulations such as this can be found  below.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Defines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. 

Defines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. Wyoming State ParksDefines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. 

Defines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. 

Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation

Defines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1, 2 and 3 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. 

Electric bicycles play an essential role in the future of modern outdoor experiences and regulations need to be in place that reflect the growing demand.

PeopleForBikes stands as a technical resource for land managers as they develop electric bicycle policies that suit the needs of their local communities. Once finalized, electric bicycle policies should be deployed with educational materials on trail etiquette. Many of the common issues experienced by all trail users can be alleviated through reminders on how to courteously share the trail. Trail etiquette materials are just one of the many resources PeopleForBikes provides to land managers to help make the transition to more modern electric bicycle policies.

 Materials on trail etiquette are just one of the many resources PeopleForBikes provides to land managers to help make the transition to modernize their agency’s code a simple process. Want to improve eMTB access in your area? Check out our electric bicycle webpage or reach out to PeopleForBikes’ Regulatory and Policy Analyst, Ashley Seaward at ashley@peopleforbikes.org.

Electric Mountain Bike Access in State Parks is Improving

On Oct. 22, 2019, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) implemented the Department of Interior’s Secretarial Order 3376 with its interim electric bicycle (e-bike) policy.

The BLM manages thousands of miles of trails open to bicycles (motorized and non-motorized) across the country. This e-bike policy will allow land managers to begin the process of determining whether to allow e-bikes on non-motorized trails, and which classes.

BLM District and Field Managers can allow the use of Class 1, 2, and 3 e-bikes where other types of bicycles are allowed. However, managers may restrict e-bike access based on local conditions such as potential impacts to natural and cultural resources, potential user conflicts and the local regulations and policies.

Currently, e-bikes are allowed on any off-highway vehicle area or motorized trail that is open to the public. Before allowing e-bike use on a non-motorized trail, a BLM manager must issue a written decision to authorize the use of e-bikes with appropriate public comment. Check with your local BLM land manager for the most up to date information.

You can find more details of the BLM’s interim e-bike policy here and their public guidance and FAQ sheet here. Check out this spreadsheet for specific land management decisions in your area and our website for further explanation of the Department of Interior’s recent e-bike announcement. Still have questions? Contact Ashley at ashley@peopleforbikes.org.

Great BLM e-bike routes you can ride today:

Slickrock National Recreation Trail — UT

Riding on BLM lands? What you need to know

Taking advantage of the annual summer recess in D.C., PeopleForBikes arranged five August in-district meetings between bike business leaders and members of Congress (and their staffers) to talk infrastructure funding, public lands policies and tariff relief. Members of the House and Senate were invited to tour bike company headquarters, meet with leadership teams, and in some cases, join low-key bike rides.

Congressman Peter DeFazio, chairman of the influential House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, connected with custom folding and cargo bike maker Bike Friday in Eugene, OR. Eugene Electric Bicycles, an independent retailer and service provider, joined the meeting, which included a scenic bike ride that doubled as a productive discussion about key issues.

In Los Angeles, field staff of Senator Dianne Feinstein visited the offices of Handlebar Bike Tours to learn how Handlebar shows off the best of L.A. by bike and why the business is a strong advocate for improved infrastructure that enhances safety. Jennifer Nutting, the Founder and Owner of Handlebar Bike Tours LA, is no stranger to civic activism and engagement. “As an elected Los Angeles Neighborhood Council member, I’ve worked to get bike lanes put in my community,” she said. “Alleviating traffic, supporting local businesses and quality of life is what politicians strive for, and bike lanes do all of that.”

One common discussion point of all these gatherings is the many important ways that federal policies directly affect bike businesses of all sizes and their home communities. Bicycling contributes an estimated $88 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports nearly 800,000 jobs (2018 Outdoor Industry Association research). The bike industry is an economic force locally, regionally, nationally, and globally—from brick-and-mortar retail, to mass market, to e-commerce plus tourism. Our industry’s success is closely tied to the federal investment in bike infrastructure, public lands access decisions, and the state of tariffs.

In Salt Lake City, Congressman Chris Stewart visited e-bike manufacturer and retailer Magnum Bikes to discuss the power of e-bikes, infrastructure needs and how new tariffs are hurting American bike businesses.

Thirty miles north of Philadelphia, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick visited local bicycle retailer Doylestown Bike Works, where he learned about their community engagement work and the ways that global trade disputes affect small businesses. “The meeting was an important reminder that we can learn from one another, and that conversations about important issues can be substantive and civil,” said Brian Boger, co-owner at DBW. Representative Fitzpatrick also serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Back in Santa Cruz, California, Ibis Cycles hosted U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta and shared their storied history as a leading independently owned bike company. Ibis touted the strength of the local outdoor recreation economy, the company’s many community investments, and the value of their labor force. “We hope Representative Panetta can share our story with others in Congress and continue supporting the cycling industry and outdoor recreation,” said Roxy Lo, Ibis bicycle designer and part-owner. “Public access to lands and recreational opportunities are paramount to a healthy business and happy employees.”

Bike businesses can host members of Congress not just in August, but year-round during the many annual breaks in the D.C. Congressional calendar.  We encourage you to work with PeopleForBikes on this. It’s good for your business, great for government support for bicycling, and it brings all our positives to life. We will provide policy talking points and data. All you need to do is serve as the guide and host, and talk about what you know best: your business. Want to learn more? Email Noa Banayan or Jordan Trout.

Bike Businesses Roll Out the Welcome Mat for Congressional Leaders

On Monday, December 4, President Trump visited Salt Lake City to make an unprecedented announcement regarding two National Monuments in Utah. The president signed new proclamations that will dramatically reduce the area of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. This announcement is a damaging blow for millions of acres in Southern Utah that have tremendous cultural and conservation value, and deserve their status as monuments. For bike riders, this means that trails in areas that have been eliminated from the existing monuments will no longer be afforded the same level of protection, and could be exposed to greater risks from development. Visitor experiences and archaeological protection may suffer.

Under the new proclamation for Bears Ears, the monument would be reduced to approximately 229,000 acres from the 1.35 million acres that comprises the current monument, and split into two separate monuments. This reduces the footprint of Bears Ears by approximately 85 percent. For Grand Staircase-Escalante, the proclamation reduces the national monument from 1.9 million acres to approximately 997,000 acres, split across three monuments. These reductions will expose a substantial amount of cultural artifacts and landscapes to new risks from competing uses.

The new monument boundaries will also eliminate existing land protections for several important trails. Based on our initial review of the proclamations, the Burr Trail, Lockhart Basin, and Elk Ridge will no longer be within national monument lands. These trails alone comprise 150 miles of pristine bike riding in red rock country that has now lost monument status.

Protecting our public lands is not only good land management policy—it is good for state and local governments and businesses. Outdoor recreation and bicycling have helped fuel Utah’s economy. The outdoor industry generates $12.3 billion in consumer spending, 110,000 jobs, and $737 million in state and local tax revenue in Utah each year. Bike riding is an important contributor to this engine, supporting $773 million in spending, nearly 7,000 jobs, and $44 million in taxes for state and local governments. These proclamations undermine the public land policies that have balanced beautiful landscapes, cultural preservation, and stable economies in the state.

PeopleForBikes has been advocating to preserve our national monuments since President Trump signed his Executive Order in April ordering the Department of the Interior to review 27 monuments. Working with our partner organizations, we have generated grassroots support from bike riders, bike businesses, and utilized our Washington, DC presence to show the administration and Congress the value of these lands. Americans have responded in force. During the public comment period, 2.7 million people provided comments to the Department, with 98 percent of people supporting existing national monuments. Despite this significant step backwards, we will continue to work with Congress and the administration for better outcomes as it continues its review, and with leaders who are committed protecting public lands for outdoor recreation.

New Proclamations Dramatically Shrink Two National Monuments in Utah

The bipartisan Recreation Not Red-Tape (RNR) Act was introduced in both the U.S. House and Senate in late July by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR). It provides a plan for improving and enhancing recreation opportunities on public lands by creating a unified system of National Recreation Areas to promote and manage activities such as hiking, biking and horseback riding. PeopleForBikes supports the RNR Act because it will help create seamless networks for bike recreation and tourism.

The current approach to managing public lands involves many different agencies, each with its own perspective on recreation. From the Bureau of Land Management to the National Park Service, there is no consistency. By developing new trans-boundary National Recreation Areas, this legislation would help protect appropriate recreational opportunities on public lands.

The RNR bill also streamlines the permitting process for federal and state land. Frequently, bicycle tours and tourists pass from one federal agency’s jurisdiction to another, or from state land to federal land. Currently, each jurisdiction requires its own permit and has its own process. Instead of this outdated system, the RNR Act will ensure that all passes or permits required for outfitters and guides will be available online. Additionally, federal land management agencies will be encouraged to work with states to allow visitors to buy a state and federal pass at one location and in one transaction. As part of the legislation, land management agencies (such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service) will adopt a consistent recreation permitting process—this will make it easier for people to ride bikes on public lands.

Addressing the maintenance backlog on federal lands is critical to preserving these great places for bikes long term. By developing Volunteer Enhancement Initiatives this legislation will promote greater volunteerism in the maintenance of public lands.

PeopleForBikes is actively monitoring this bill and on October 3 we submitted testimony during a bill hearing held by the House Natural Resources Committee. We will keep our members updated on the status of the Recreation Not Red-Tape Act.

Recreation Not Red-Tape Act and What It Means for bikes

On Aug. 29, Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt ordered the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service (NPS) to establish interim policies within 30 days that guide the use of e-bikes on public lands. The departments were encouraged to adopt a policy that allows e-bikes to be ridden where traditional bicycles are allowed. You can learn more about the Secretarial Order.

The NPS announced its new e-bike policy on Aug. 30, stating that e-bikes may be used in the same manner as traditional bicycles, allowing them on park roads, paved or hardened trails, areas designated for off-road motor vehicle use and administrative roads where traditional bikes are allowed. E-bikes are not allowed in wilderness areas and individuals may not operate an e-bike where the motor can be used to propel the rider without pedaling, except in locations that are open to motor vehicle traffic.

NPS Superintendents had 30 days following the agency’s announcement to either amend their Compendium to include an e-bike policy that considers the safety, resource protection and local requirements of their community, or to adopt the e-bike policy as stated in the National Park Service’s announcement.

PeopleForBikes maintains a spreadsheet of the National Parks, Monuments, Seashores and Recreational Areas that have either updated their Superintendent’s Compendium to reflect the Secretarial Order or created a new e-bike policy based on local community needs of their land. We will keep this updated with information as we receive it and hope it is a useful resource.

These policy announcements are a watershed moment for e-bikes riders. Next time you plan a trip to the outdoors with your e-bike, check out the many new incredible rides available in national parks. Happy trails!

The White Rim Road, Canyonlands National Park

Going-to-the-sun Road, Glacier National Park

Stone Cliff Road, New River Gorge National River

Lake Village Trail, Yellowstone National Park

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Electric Mountain Bike Access in State Parks is Improving

Riding on BLM lands? What you need to know

Bike Businesses Roll Out the Welcome Mat for Congressional Leaders

New Proclamations Dramatically Shrink Two National Monuments in Utah

Recreation Not Red-Tape Act and What It Means for bikes

E-bike Access in National Parks