E-bike advocates are quick to point out their health benefits. Less demanding on joints and muscles, they can help inactive people become active. E-bike riders can go farther, longer, and enjoy nature along the way. But e-bikes at Tahoe? They’ve been a no-no, until now. The Forest Service may soon open 100 miles or more of trails to e-bike use.
E-bikes at Tahoe could soon be a reality
According to CBS News, e-bikes on Lake Tahoe trails could soon become a reality. “The new designation would open up class one e-bikes and that will give a lot of folks a lot more opportunity to recreate at the lake without having to drive,” Drew Bray, Executive Director of the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, said in an interview with the media outlet.
The Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has been looking at allowing the “less-than-motorcycles” an allowance to take to trails. Under current rules, “motorized” vehicles, including e-bikes, are off limits.
Bike Association Bray told CBS, “With that, the forest is going to get another motorized designation, just underneath motorbikes, class one e-bikes. And they’re going to open up access for, gosh, almost 100 miles, maybe 106.”
What’s a class one e-bike? It uses a motor to assist its rider. They pedal with an electronic push, going up to 20 mph.
Health and environmental benefits
Proponents of e-bikes at Tahoe say not only would bikers see benefits, the environment would get an assist, too. Getting people out of their cars means less air pollution. E-bikes by their nature don’t directly pollute the atmosphere. Imagine taking an e-bike to Tahoe, then hitting the trails.
Fear you might run out of gas—er—electricity? You can take the area public transit bus system with an e-bike. If the bike will fit on the rack on the front of the bus, you’re good to go.
So what remains before you see e-bikes at Tahoe? The Forest Service is finalizing its environmental assessment document. It should be out by August, and open to public comment. If all goes well, e-bikes at Tahoe could be a reality by summer’s end.
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I think this is a bad idea waiting to get worse.
I haven’t any experience with ebikes, Tommy. Do those riding them tend to go faster than, say, 10 mph? That is, do they ride them closer to 20 mph, or closer to 10?
I agree with Tommy on this. I think it’s a really bad idea allowing e-bikes on trails with walkers, hikers, and pets, etc. 20 MPH ! GEEZ!
Thanks, Bill! Do you think that the riders of ebikes will tend to ride as fast as 20? I wouldn’t unless they were on a street. Aren’t most trails open to bikes still pretty rough and curvey? I have hiked in only one national park, so I have no intuition on how biking trails are. Thanks!
Just like regular bikes they tend to go faster than they should. And on trails, the chance of overcoming slower walkers and hikers is greater with less visibility through the trees and brush.
Thanks, Bill. I have seen people riding them on YouTube, but not in any campground where we have stayed. Safe travels and safe stays! 🙂
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 Well, looks like ebikes essentially are being reclassified as bikes. Given the speed limitation of class 1 ebikes, I think that’s fair. Thank you for the news, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
For better or for worse, Class I E-bikes are pedal-assist only, there is no throttle like on a motorcycle. Yes, they can go 20 mph but that doesn’t mean you have to. A standard bike can go pretty fast as well. Perhaps posting speed limits would help; there probably already are on many trails. Oh, and it may be harder to find an e-bike that is Class I only; my Lectric isn’t.