We make sure that bikes are considered in new projects, encourage communities across city lines to pursue funding together, support ballot initiatives dedicated to outdoor recreation, andlobby for federal funding for path and trail development.

We support local groups focused on increasing outdoor participation, help cities rethink how to provide more opportunities for close-to-home bike riding, foster the development of pocket bike parks and force the prioritization of bike trails and parks in underserved communities.

We work with state departments of transportation to add or improve shoulders on major county and state arterial roads, work to require that funding for highway projects is contingent on adding/improving shoulders, and ask state departments of transportation to prioritize road improvements that improve bicyclists safety and benefit bike riders.

We help prioritize projects that serve historically underserved and disinvested communities, advance bills that provide financial incentives to recreate by bike, connect bike riding with health and wellness outcomes, force equity considerations in planning and value electric bicycle access on the same level as traditional bikes.

Bike riding opportunities in rural, non-urban areas are revenue raisers for local communities through tourism. We support funding and policy measures that help build out trail systems, connected bike networks and the infrastructure needed to cater to visitors and residents alike.

Every day, agencies and businesses across the U.S. are looking to establish electric bicycle incentive programs due to the immense social, environmental and economic benefits they can provide for both individuals and communities as a whole. Electric bicycles are cheaper to own and maintain than a car, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing trips that would be taken in a vehicle and support local utility providers through increased electricity usage.

When paired with a purchase incentive program, PeopleForBikes believes that electric bicycles can play a critical role in the development of sustainable transportation systems that are equitable to all members of a community. 

To achieve this vision, we’re prioritizing our work into two complementary efforts — the first being our continued work to modernize outdated rules that make it difficult to ride an electric bicycle. Over the past six years, we improved electric bicycle access in 28 states (and counting) by helping pass legislation that clearly defines them as bicycles and gives electric bicycle riders the same rights as traditional bike riders.

As we continue to improve access in all 50 states, establishing a range of electric bicycle purchase incentive programs is our next priority. We are working alongside a broad coalition of stakeholders at the local, state and federal levels to establish incentive programs that will benefit current and future riders nationwide. 

As we proactively work to get incentive programs off the ground, PeopleForBikes will also act to support agencies and businesses looking to learn more about electric bicycle incentive programs. We will be providing educational resources including webinars, program tracking and one-on-one meetings to supply the necessary information to make purchase incentive programs easy to understand and replicate in communities throughout the U.S. 

Our new beginner’s guide to electric bicycle purchase incentive programs is a great place to start learning about commonly found programs in the U.S. and what you’ll need to create a purchase incentive program in your community. Want to learn more about PeopleForBikes' strategies to support the development of electric bicycle purchase incentive programs? Click here. 

Any additional questions? Contact PeopleForBikes’ Regulatory and Policy Analyst Ashley Seaward at ashley@peopleforbikes.org for more information.

Making Electric Bicycle Purchase Incentive Programs a Top Priority 

There’s an opportunity to increase funding for cities and states to build new bike projects across the U.S. thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). The federal government fully and permanently funded the LWCF at $900 million annually when the Great American Outdoors Act became law in August 2020. This is one of the government’s primary investments to ensure that Americans nationwide have close-to-home recreation. 

Every year, federal funding will flow into states to protect important lands and waters for all Americans through conservation and recreation projects. Launched by Congress in 1964, the LWCF was designed to direct revenue from federal off-shore oil and gas leases (not taxpayer dollars) to acquire land and conservation easements to protect our national parks, wildlife refuges, forests and trails. The LWCF also grants funds to states for local and state park needs, protects critical wildlife habitat, watersheds and recreational access and conserves working farms, ranches and forestlands that enhance local economies.

What does that mean for bikes? More and improved bike lanes, trails and bike parks.

The National Park Service administers the State and Local Grants Program within the LWCF, which provides funding for state and local planning and facility development in cities, counties and rural towns. We want to encourage our local partners nationwide to think about bike projects in the pipeline that could be eligible for LWCF funding. One item of note is that LWCF state and local grants only cover 50% of project costs, and state and local grants generally receive 26% of LWCF funding (subject to appropriations). 

PeopleForBikes is a member of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), the leading coalition of trade associations supporting the outdoor recreation industry. ORR recently put together a survey to create a list of LWCF-eligible recreation projects for FY22-FY25 from businesses and partners around the U.S. 

The survey will help ORR showcase the outstanding potential for new projects. From our point of view, that means new bike lanes, new bike parks, trails that connect communities, bike projects that support rural development and better access to recreation in diverse communities nationwide. This list will also be used to inform future priorities for the outdoor recreation economy and to educate Congress and the new administration. 

We encourage bike businesses, city and state resource agencies and stakeholders involved in bike advocacy to fill out the survey. Any information provided will help inform future efforts beyond 2022. 

For more information, visit the Outdoor Alliance’s interactive guide to the LWCF, which provides information and historical context about the program, as well as interactive maps that highlight how the LWCF has secured access and conserved lands for outdoor recreation opportunities.

Using the Land and Water Conservation Fund for Local Bike Projects

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.

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 and 2 electric bicycles wherever bicycles are allowed. 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Defines three classes of electric bicycles and allows Class 1 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. 

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 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

While recent news out of Washington, D.C. may seem singularly focused, members of Congress continue to work steadily to advance priority legislation that preserves public lands and improves recreation opportunities.

Earlier this week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed both the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Permanent Funding Act (S. 1081)  and the Restore our Parks Act (S. 500). If ultimately approved by the entire Senate, the House of Representatives and the president, these bills will benefit everyone who enjoys biking and recreating on our public lands. These initiatives can build on the John D. Dingell Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (S. 47), a major package of recreation and conservation legislation that became law earlier this year.

LWCF has a strong history of bipartisanship. It has funded parks, trails, athletic fields, and other types of recreation projects coast to coast. Permanent funding for LWCF holds tremendous promise for future generations of bike riders and public land lovers. We are proud to support S. 1081 that was introduced in April by Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO).

Our national parks are suffering from inadequate funding to perform essential maintenance of buildings, roads, bridges, trails, and water systems. The backlog is estimated to over $11 billion. ROPA, introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME), would reinvest some of the energy revenues collected from public lands to address this shortfall. This legislation enjoys strong support from the outdoor recreation community. If approved, we hope the benefits can be extended to other federal land management agencies, including the U.S. Forest Service.

Back in September, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held hearings on other recreation priorities, including the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation Act  (SOAR, S. 1665) and Recreation Not Red Tape Act (RNR, S. 1967). SOAR would streamline the permitting process for outdoor recreation on our public lands, and RNR would reduce barriers to access and recreation opportunity development.

These four pieces of legislation are the next iteration of recreation policies that Congress should package and approve for the benefit of all Americans. Our public lands stand at a precipice with increasing visitation numbers and a growing maintenance backlog. We must preserve our favorite places to ride bikes and assure that future generations can enjoy the full range of incredible experiences that are available to us today.

Senate Committee Votes Yes on Important Public Lands and Recreation Legislation

Cities are dynamic entities. If you look at photos from 100 years ago, most city streets would be unrecognizable. While preserving history is important, places and infrastructure require constant revision and revitalization to accommodate modern populations — working with the old to build the new.

Every December, we like to celebrate the new. We scour reports, public records and, most importantly, solicit submissions from city officials and community members to review the year’s latest bike projects. 

Does your city or town have a bikeway that was completed in 2020? Now is the time to show it off.

It doesn’t matter if your new bikeway is 10 meters or 10 miles long, if it’s critical to your place and doing important work to connect your community’s bike network, we want to hear from you. We’ll choose the top 10 new bikeways based on innovative construction, relevant location and how well they improve access, connectivity and safety. The winners will be featured on the PeopleForBikes website. 

If you’re proud of a new bikeway in your community, please send the following information:

100 words or fewer explaining why the bikeway should be recognized as one of America’s best of 2020, with an emphasis on how it has improved your overall bike network

When (month of 2020) the bikeway was completed

Email address and/or phone number of a contact person to follow up with: preferably the person/organization behind the funding/advocacy of this new bikeway

Please send your submissions to placesforbikes@peopleforbikes.org no later than Monday, December 7.

Call For Submissions: America’s Best New Bikeways of 2020

While electric bicycles have been rising in popularity, access to good trail systems — particularly on federal public lands — hasn’t always been so straightforward. However, swift changes are coming as several federal land management agencies have taken steps to modernize electric bicycle management policies. These actions improve electric bicycle access and make it easier than ever for Americans to get out and ride.

In the last month, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Park Service (NPS) — all under the Department of the Interior, or DOI — finalized rules that give land managers more flexibility to permit electric bicycles where bikes are allowed. 

Historically, electric bicycles have been classified as motor vehicles due to outdated laws and misunderstandings about how low speed electric bicycles are used. This limited electric bicycle trail opportunities to motorized trails, even though most electric bicycle riders desire an bike-like experience and riding opportunities on non-motorized trails. 

These new rules have been more than a year in the making. On Aug. 29, 2019, the DOI issued Secretarial Order 3376, directing the NPS, BLM, BOR and FWS to establish new electric bicycle policies. In April 2020, each agency published a proposed rule, subject to public comment, specifying how electric bicycles would be managed on their lands. 

In early Oct. 2020, the DOI finalized these rules for electric bicycle use on public lands, clearly defining electric bicycles as bicycles so long as they fit within one of three classes. The rules also give local land managers the authority to permit their use on non-motorized trails. See the finalized rules here.

With hundreds of land management agencies at the local, state and federal levels, e-bike policies in the U.S. will continue to evolve and change over the coming months and years. On Sept. 24, 2020, the U.S. Forest Service proposed amendments to its directives that govern electric bicycle access.

If adopted, these changes would mean that:

Electric bicycles are defined within the three-class system.

Electric bicycles are still managed as motor vehicles. 

Land managers have the authority to designate electric bicycle use on trails where bicycles are allowed. However, those trails would be redesignated as motorized and only open to bicycles and all or some classes of electric bicycles. 

Land managers are encouraged to consider whether the effects of electric bicycle use are comparable to those of traditional bicycle use.

Future travel management decisions should consider emerging technologies like electric bicycles.

PeopleForBikes supports the intent of the Forest Service’s proposed changes to define three classes of electric bicycles and to allow them in more places where traditional bicycles are allowed. However, these changes would also mean that electric bicycles are still classified as motor vehicles. As such, in order to allow an electric bicycle on an existing non-motorized trail, that trail would have to be redesignated at a motorized trail, open to electric bicycle and traditional bicycle use only. 

PeopleForBikes provided a comment to the Forest Service requesting that all three classes of electric bicycles be considered bicycles and allowed access to non-motorized trails if local land managers approve their use. Given the similar physical, on-trail effects of bicycles and electric bicycles — and the desired user experience of e-bike riders — we believe that the best long-term management strategy for these trails is to continue managing them as non-motorized. We believe that these trails should not be converted to a motorized designation to address electric bicycles.

For details on the Forest Service’s proposal, visit our federal electric bicycle webpage. These announcements are a big step for improved electric bicycle access across the country. We will continue to track these ongoing policy decisions and provide updates when needed. Contact PeopleForBikes’ Regulatory and Policy Analyst, Ashley Seaward at ashley@peopleforbikes.org with any questions or comments. 

Department of the Interior Issues New Rules on Electric Bicycle Access

Policy

Improving Recreational Access for Bikes

Securing Funding for New Parks and Trails

Helping Cities Build Great Places to Bike That Are Close to Home

Improving Road Cyclist Safety

Increasing Access for Kids, Veterans, Electric Bicycle Riders and Underserved Communities

Promoting Recreation-Based Economic Development in Rural Areas