This weekend Sat. September 21 and Sun. September 22, the Folsom Lake Mounted Patrol and California Conservation of Trials are holding their 7th annual benefit poker ride to fund Folsom Lake trails. According to the ride management, the ride, limited to 160 riders, was completely filled up and closed a full month in advance. With the addition of 50 volunteers, this will be the largest fund raising event in their history.
The ride will feature an overnight campout and a sunset ride on Saturday, and the poker ride, food truck, prizes for the ride winners on Sunday. Trails used for the ride Sunday 8:00am - 2:00pm will be the Pioneer Express, beach, and Granite Bay multi-use trails.
All funds raised will directly benefit Folsom Lake trails through the nonprofit organization, California Conservation of Trails.

Here is the calendar for events that will affect the trails during the month of October at Folsom Lake SRA. Dates, times, information, size of the event, and contact person is listed with each event.

Oct. 4th
Folsom Bike Jr. Bike Program 4:30pm-6:00pm Teaching mountain bike skills to kids between the ages of 8-14. All day use fees apply
Participants: 75 Spectators: 25
Contact: Erin Gorrell 916-844-1000

Oct. 5th
REI Intro to Mountain Biking
Oct. 5th
Glow Run
7:30pm-9:30pm
Granite Bay - Willow Creek - Negro Bar
Family friendly fun run starting and ending in Historic Folsom. Participants will enter the park at Negro Bar
1000 participants
Sarah Trobee 916-461-6618 for more information

Oct. 11th
Folsom Bike Jr. Bike Program
4:30pm-6:00pm
Teaching mountain bike skills to kids between the ages of 8-14.
Contact: Erin Gorrell


Oct 12th
Granite Head Trails & Ales
Event hours: 8:00am-11:00am
Granite Bay Activity Center
Trail run event using trails around Granite Bay.
900 participants
Contact: Mark Shaw 916-995-6676


Oct. 12th
Insomnia 35k Run
Beal’s Point & FLSRA Trails
Event hours: 7:00pm-1:00am
NIGHT time trail running event starting at Gate 142 (Auburn SRA) and ending at Beal’s Point. Event will use the Pioneer Express Trail.
100 participants
Contact: Paulo Medina 650-391-7031


Oct 13th
Mountain Bike 50 Miler
Event hours: 8:00am-2:00pm
Granite Bay
Mountain bike race using multi-use trails around Granite Bay.
200 Participants
Contact: Mark Shaw 650-391-7031


Oct. 13th
Fleet Feet Training
Group trail running program using the Pioneer Express Trail.
Contact: Sean Garbutt 916-442-3690


Oct. 18th
Folsom Bike Jr. Bike Program
Granite Bay
4:30pm-6:00pm
Teaching mountain bike skills to kids between the ages of 8-14.
Contact: Erin Gorrell 916-844-1000


Oct. 19th
REI Intro to Mountain Biking
9:00am-1:00pm
Granite Bay
  
Oct. 20th
Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon
Nimbus Flat
*Bike trail will be closed during the event*
Event hours: 7:00am-11:00am
Run starting at Folsom Lake Crossing, then heading down Folsom-Auburn Road to Lake Natoma. Event will enter the park at the Lake Natoma Crossing and use American River Bike Trail on the south side of the lake. Turn around point at Nimbus Flat. There will be aid stations at Willow Creek and Nimbus Flat.
1500 Participants:
Contact: John Mansour 916-792-7055


Oct. 25th
Folsom Bike Jr. Bike Program
Granite Bay
4:30pm-6:00pm
Teaching mountain bike skills to kids between the ages of 8-14.
Contact: Erin Gorrell 916-844-1000
      
Oct. 26th
REI Singletrack Mountain Biking
9:00am -12:30pm
Granite Bay


Oct. 27th
Equestrian Challenge for MS
Event hours: 7:00am-4:00pm
Staging at Granite Bay Horse Assembly.
5-20 mile trail rides on horseback
Event will use the Pioneer Express Trail, beach trails, and multi-use trails.
Contact: Debbie McGee 916-847-0638 or Brenda Strait 916-717-2764

Subject: Opposition to Motorized e-Bikes on Equestrian and Hiking Trails within Tahoe National Forest, California

Forest Supervisor Eli Llano Tahoe National Forest
631 Coyote Street 
Nevada City, California 95959 
Eli.Llano @ usda.gov
​USFS office telephone 530-265-4531 

Dear Supervisor Llano:
The American Endurance Ride Conference consists of about 4,500 equestrians (nationally) who ride long-distances (50 and 100 miles) on mountain trails in organized rides under state and federal written permits with licensed equine Veterinarians. AERC is headquartered here in Auburn, California. www.aerc.org AERC has a long-standing written Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Forest Service (at the national level in Washington, D.C.). I serve on the national Trails Committee for AERC, and serve as the California State Trails Advocate for the 50,000 miles trails.

AERC has several long-distance all-day rides within Tahoe National Forest. Foremost among these is the 100-mile Tevis Cup on the historic Western States Trail, from the Lake Tahoe area to Auburn. For example, on August 17, 2019, AERC had 184 riders on this 24-hour ride, with 1,200 volunteer crew members. The 100-mile Tevis Cup has been held annually on a Saturday in August during the full moonlight since 1955, with over 6,000 completions.

We are in close partnership with the Truckee Ranger District and the American River Ranger District, and our historic ride always has a written permit from Tahoe National Forest. AERC, Western States Trail Foundation, Backcountry Horsemen of California, Western States 100-mile Run, and Gold Country Trails Council have worked as professionally-trained crews and volunteer licensed sawyers together with Tahoe National Forest trail crews for many decades with joint trail- crews performing trail maintenance. This annually saves Tahoe National Forest a large sum of money.

For safety reasons and for legal reasons, the American Endurance Ride Conference is opposed to motorized e-Bikes on equestrian and hiking trails (= non-motorized trails). Many of our horse trails are single-track with blind corners. Horses do not want to meet a high-speed 20 m.p.h. electric bike on a blind corner on a single-track mountain trail (only 2 to 3 feet wide) with no space for lateral escape. This is a clear safety hazard, with high potential for injury and death to the rider and the horse.

On a related issue, it is against long-standing Federal Law for bicycles and motorcycles to ride on the Pacific Crest Trail. For Tahoe National Forest, this particularly includes the Granite Chief Wilderness area. Brazen intrusion of e-Bikes within Tahoe National Forest will simply disregard federal laws and create a new safety hazard for everyone, plus e-Bikes create a new problem for legal enforcement by U.S. Rangers and the Placer County Sheriff.

USFS Regional Forester Randy Moore, and his USDA General Counsel Jeffery Moulton in San Francisco, can reliably inform you that it is not legal for one Forest (out of eighteen Forests in the Pacific Southwest Region) to suddenly and abruptly allow e-Bikes on non-motorized trails, when it is clearly unsafe. On a legal basis, the USFS national headquarters in Washington, D.C., promulgates uniform rules for USFS trail usage that is in conformance with federal laws that have been passed by Congress.

Please confer with the USFS Regional Forester Randy Moore in Vallejo on the topic of the safety and legality of e-Bikes on non-motorized trails.

On a personal note, please understand that I am a former uniformed U.S.F.S. Ranger, and Trail Crew Chief. As a young man, I started on a Hot Shot Crew in the U.S. Forest Service from Region One in Missoula, Montana.

We are pro-government citizens, and vigilant proponents of safe trails for horses, hikers, and runners. Public safety is of paramount importance.

Copies to:
Region Five Supervisor Randy Moore USFS Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, California 94592-1110
telephone 707-562-9000
Randy.Moore@usda.gov R5@fs.fed.us

Jeffrey Moulton, Esquire;
USFS Region 5 Attorney Office of the General Counsel
33 New Montgomery Street, 17th Floor
San Francisco, California 94105-4511
Jeffrey.Moulton@usda.gov telephone 415-744-3166
​
Respectfully submitted,
Robert Hadley Sydnor
AERC California State Trails Advocate
Life Member, California Academy of Sciences Fellow, Geological Society of America
A.E.R.C. Trail Master (licensed trail maintenance)
U.S.F.S. Certified Sawyer (current as of April 2019)

CLICK HERE TO SEE ORIGINAL LETTER

Two days ago a man was airlifted from Annadel State Park this week after he was seriously injured while mountain biking with a friend in a rugged, steep section of the park, but not on a marked trail, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said. They determined the man, 29, had likely broken his femur and possibly his pelvis. Santa Rosa firefighters arrived, treated the man and determined it was too dangerous to carry him out of the rugged area. The man was air lifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for his injuries."  It is estimated the air ambulance cost was $36,000.
Click here to see the original story in the Press Democrat newspaper.

Could this be you on the hook for $36,000? Yes. If you don't have air ambulance membership service (cost $65 - $85 a year).

You are hiking or trail running, slip and fall 50 feet down a ravine and break your ankle with a possible heart attack. You are riding your mt. bike, take a corner too fast and crash into a tree, breaking some ribs and suffer a concussion. You are a horseback rider and you and your horse are attacked by ground wasps, causing a fall, some broken bones and you are starting to go into anaphylactic shock. These are medical emergencies that can't be easily addressed by basic first aid or ground medical transport. You need emergency medical help, but you are miles from the nearest road. What to do?  Call 9-1-1. They will coordinate the help you need with an air ambulance to get you out of the forest and to the nearest ER.

Air ambulances cost from #12,000 to $40,000, depending on time and travel. Who pays for that service? If you don't have insurance that covers air transport, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT BILL. If you can't pay, and you have neglected to obtain insurance, then your fellow taxpayers will pick up the bill for you.

RESPONSIBLE TRAIL USERS HAVE AIR AMBULANCE INSURANCE/MEMBERSHIP! You don't want the state to be responsible for you, your air ambulance bill, and your care.

Here are some FAQs from CALSTAR/AirMed Network, our local and extended air ambulance membership and service:

Question: Do I have to carry extra air ambulance service? I already have good private health insurance.
Answer: Some insurance plans will pay for all or a potion of your air ambulance, after your deductible. But, certainly not all. Your insurance can change coverage or your claim can be denied. Contact your insurance agent and make sure you determine your coverage in writing, and then decide what's best for you and your family.

Question: I have Medicare and a supplemental policy, do I need an air ambulance coverage?
Answer: The answer varies, depending upon the nature of your transport and your supplemental insurance provider. In many cases, Medicare and the supplemental insurance coverage should pay for the cost of transport if it is medically necessary and if Medicare believes you were taken to the closest appropriate hospital. Many seniors have said they want a membership even if they have complete coverage, in the event that their insurance coverage changes in the future or if the claim is denied. 

Question: Do air ambulances have membership service for more than wilderness emergencies? 
Answer: Yes. If your medical emergency meets certain criteria, such as a heart attack, stroke or a traumatic injury and the 911 dispatcher determines you would benefit from emergent ground or air medical transport, they may dispatch an air ambulance to your emergency, as well as a ground ambulance. If you require an emergent medical transport from one Hospital to another hospital, those transfers are ordered by physicians. In the event that the AirMedCare Network Operations Center receive a call for emergency help from an individual or source other than a healthcare or emergency services agency, AirMedCare Network Providers communication specialists will identify and contact the ground EMS service in the patient’s community and ask them to respond to the scene. If they determine air medical transport is needed, they will dispatch one of our air ambulance providers.

Question: Is this a blatant advertisement for air ambulance service?
Answer: Yes. Mother Lode Trails is a proponent of individual responsibility. Air ambulance service is a vital need for active outdoors folks so they don't become dependent on the state. EVERY TRAIL USERS SHOULD CARRY INSURANCE THAT COVERS AIR MEDICAL TRANSPORT AND/OR MEMBERSHIP IN AN AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE.

GET COVERAGE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TODAY
In our area, CALSTAR/AirMed Network has been the trusted local group for decades and comes highly recommended by trail users. They combined the other main services in our area a few years ago, and now cover all the western states and have partners all across the U.S. CLICK HERE for coverage map. There are many trail organizations who can provide you with a discounted membership. Be sure to ask your trails group. 

From YubaNet.com - September 13, 2019  
The Tahoe National Forest recently permitted “Class 1” electric mountain bikes (E-MTBs) on over 130 miles of trails that had been reserved for hiking and other non-motorized uses. This, despite the fact that Tahoe already has some 2,500 miles of trails and roads available for motorized uses. The decision came on the heels of a recent ill-informed change in Interior Department policy, allowing electric bicycles on non-motorized trails.

Several groups recently signed onto a letter asking the Tahoe National Forest to reverse its decision to allow electric mountain bikes on non-motorized trails.

The groups protesting the rules change include The Wilderness Society, Gold Country Trails Council, Back Country Horsemen of America, Forest Issues Group, and Backcountry Horsemen of California, including its Mother Lode Unit.** In a letter to the Tahoe Forest Supervisor, the groups document how the Tahoe’s decision undermines “long-standing travel management laws and policies that help ensure higher quality recreation experiences for both motorized and non-motorized users, prevent avoidable resource damage, alleviate public safety concerns and conflicts between users….” Prior to opening non-motorized trails to motorized E-MTB use, the letter states, Tahoe should have followed the required travel management planning procedure, which is a public process that includes analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Sometimes called the Magna Carta of conservation law, NEPA requires environmental analysis and public participation in federal decisions that affect public lands.

“These abrupt changes under the Trump administration violate long-standing law and public trust,” said Alison Flint, Wilderness Society Litigation and Agency Policy Director. “We will not hesitate to fight this dangerous trend, which favors wider abuse and degradation of our remaining wild public lands while again tipping the scale to enrich an industry that’s pushing for the motorization of America’s public lands. While there are ample places for e-bikes on public lands, non-motorized trails are not one of them.”

Non-motorized trails ensure safety and conservation on public lands. This is not a campaign against e-bikes. But the Department of the Interior has a responsibility to respect the different types of recreation and users on our public lands, since there are vast areas already available for different uses.  Growing demands for all types of recreation has created pressure to open more lands to motorized recreation at the expense of non-motorized uses. This would be unfair. We can’t afford to motorize the nation’s remaining wild, quiet places. Until very recently, public lands have been open to motorized recreation by default. The agencies have worked hard to define the appropriate balance, informed by public input and environmental analysis. However, there is still an immense amount of public lands that are open to motorized uses, and so the pressure for more is unreasonable. Also, redefining non-motorized trails as acceptable places for motorized recreation, including e-bikes, sets a bad precedent that could lead to further loss of the land’s natural features, which are essential to preserving the health of our forests and wildlife.

**From Mother Lode Trails: there are several other trails and environmental organizations in addition to the above noted who are in talks with the Wilderness Society to support this issue, including the American Hiking Society, Sierra Foothills Audubon Society, Sierra Club Mother Lode chapter, Action Coalition of Equestrians, and more.
​CLICK HERE to see the original article in YubaNet.com.

UPDATE: Aug 30, 2019: Today, the National Park Service released its new policy on electric bikes or e-bikes, implementing the Secretarial Order issued yesterday by Secretary Bernhardt. The Park Service’s policy requires parks to allow e-bike access to trails that traditional bikes can use, all without any analysis of impacts to natural and cultural resources, visitors and other user groups, wildlife or trail conditions. This new policy undermines the Park Service’s own management regulations that require analysis of new uses in parks and processes that allow for public input.

WASHINGTON, DC – National trail advocates and conservation organizations blasted the Department of Interior today for Secretary Bernhardt’s new order that could open non-motorized trails to all classes of motorized e-bikes(electric motorized bicycles). Trail advocates and conservation groups point out that the order undermines agency regulations and management rules, fails to consider impacts to hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders and other recreationists, and may signal the beginning of the end for non-motorized backcountry trails, all while not including the public in the decision-making process.

Groups Fear Order Paves Way for Motorization of America’s National Trails, Parks and Public Lands

FAQ: Should the National Park Service Allow E-Bikes on Park Trails?
Electric-assist bicycles have been growing in popularity for years. Here’s why these vehicles could pose problems for some national parks.
“The Interior Department is rushing guidance on a use they haven’t properly evaluated for potential impacts to park natural and cultural resources, visitors or wildlife. Sadly, this new policy was created behind closed doors and with no public involvement,“ said Kristen Brengel, Senior Vice President at the National Parks Conservation Association. “E-bikes have a place on national parks’ roads and motorized trails. But this announcement disregards well-established policies for how visitors can enjoyably and safely experience the backcountry in national parks. For generations we’ve agreed that there are some places so special that they should be protected for visitors to enjoy away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This new policy carelessly ignores those longstanding protections for backcountry areas.”

Earlier this summer hundreds of trail advocates and conservation groups sent a joint letter to federal land management officials opposing any effort to allow e-bikes on non-motorized trails. The letter noted that non-motorized trails were created to ensure that the public could find recreational trail opportunities free from the ever-growing motorization. It pointed out that millions of public land users including hikers, backpackers, hunters, horse packers, climbers, mountain bikers and many more, value non-motorized trails for recreation. Opening non-motorized trails to motorized e-bikes would forever change the backcountry experience for many users.

Trail advocates and conservation groups are quick to point out that e-bikes should be welcomed on public lands but not everywhere and not on every trail. Conservationist and trail advocates are clear that e-bikes are motorized vehicles and should be managed as such. They point out that the existing motorized trail system provides plenty of opportunity for e-bikes use with tens of thousands of miles of trails on public lands, including many iconic trails, currently open to their use.

“What has happened to the management of our public lands?” asked Darrell Wallace, Chairman of the Back Country Horsemen of America.
“We’ve worked for decades to engage with these agencies, and other user groups, as partners in order to build and maintain a wonderful system of safe trails throughout the nation’s public lands. This abrupt change in long-standing policy came from below the radar—they didn’t bother to ask anyone’s opinion. What does this say to the thousands of volunteers who have played by the rules over the years? That the manufacturers of these motorized machines are more important than the citizens who use and maintain these trails, and the safety issues that accompany multi-use trails?”

“The outdoors are for everyone, whether enjoying human powered recreation or riding something with a motor. But sweeping changes to existing e-bike policy cannot be made without public input from all impacted user groups. Permitting e-bike use on trails that have been thoughtfully and specifically designated as non-motorized raises questions of safety and trail sustainability that must be considered,” said Tyler Ray, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the American Hiking Society. “Making this change behind closed doors undermines the long-standing collaborative relationships between trail users and federal agencies.”

“The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is designated for hikers and horseback riders and goes through 48 wilderness areas. While the trail enjoys great protections, threats to those quiet, non-mechanized forms of recreation are ever present. Some people are working hard to open the PCT and all wilderness areas to mountain bikes. So far, Congress and federal land managers have rightly resisted these attempts,” said Mark Larabee, Associate Director of The Pacific Crest Trail Association. “The Pacific Crest Trail Association is not opposed to mountain bikes or e-bikes, and we believe they should have their place on public land. But we believe reclassifying battery-powered bikes as non-motorized not only would be illogical, it would displace mountain bikes without motors. More importantly, it would be a paradigm shift in otherwise sound government policy that could affect trails and wilderness areas across the country.”

“Let’s be clear e-bikes are motorized vehicles,” said Michael Carroll, Senior Director of the People Outdoors Program at The Wilderness Society. “Secretary Bernhardt’s policy change paves the way for the complete motorization of America’s remaining wild places. The Trump Administration has made it a standard practice to create new policies and management rules with industry behind closed doors and this is more of the same. This new policy will forever change the experience for backcountry trail users. Families that have sought out non-motorized areas to hunt, fish, hike, camp and simply get away from the noise and chaos of daily life will now have their special get-away spots opened up to motors.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COMPLETE ARTICLE

WASHINGTON – Kicking off this year’s hunting season and continuing the Trump Administration’s efforts to increase recreational access on public lands, U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt (photo above) announced today new hunting and fishing opportunities on more than 1.4 million acres nationwide.

“This is the largest single effort to expand hunting and fishing access in recent history,” said Secretary Bernhardt. “President Trump has made increasing public access and streamlining government functions priorities of his administration, and this new rule delivers on both fronts given the unprecedented expansion of public acreage and removal or revision of 5,000 hunting and fishing regulations to more closely match state laws. This is a big win for sportsmen and sportswomen across the country and our collective conservation efforts.”

The expansion included in the rule is more than double the acreage that has been opened or expanded compared to the last 5 years combined. Seventy-seven national wildlife refuges and 15 national fish hatcheries managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are incorporated in the new rule and are now open to hunting and fishing for the first time or have expanded opportunities for new game species. ...

The balance of this Dept. of Interior Secty Bernhardt Press Release is here: 
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-bernhardt-expands-public-access-hunting-and-fishing-14-million-acres

These are the new areas open for hunting and fishing in California:
California
o Colusa National Wildlife Refuge: Open to wild turkey hunting for the first time on 1,639 acres.
o Delevan National Wildlife Refuge: Open to wild turkey hunting for the first time on 1,696 acres. 
o Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuge: Open to sport fishing for the first time.
o Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge: Open to wild turkey hunting for the first time on 1,371 acres.
o San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Expand season date ranges and method of take for
existing migratory game bird hunting on 9,726 acres.
o Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge: Open sport fishing for the first time.
o Sutter National Wildlife Refuge: Open to wild turkey hunting for the first time on 839 acres.

Groups Fear Order Paves Way for Motorization of America’s National Trails, Parks and Public Lands
Silver Spring, MD—Aug. 30, 2019— National trail advocates and conservation organizations blasted the Department of Interior today for Secretary Bernhardt’s new order that could open non-motorized trails to all classes of motorized e-bikes (electric motorized bicycles). Trail advocates and conservation groups point out that the order undermines agency regulations and management rules, fails to consider impacts to hikers, mountain bikers, horse riders and other recreationists, and may signal the beginning of the end for non-motorized backcountry trails, all while not including the public in the decision-making process.

“The Interior Department is rushing guidance on a use they haven’t properly evaluated for potential impacts to park natural and cultural resources, visitors or wildlife. Sadly, this new policy was created behind closed doors and with no public involvement,” said Kristen Brengel, Senior Vice President at the National Parks Conservation Association. “E-bikes have a place on national parks’ roads and motorized trails. But this announcement disregards well-established policies for how visitors can enjoyably and safely experience the backcountry in national parks. For generations we’ve agreed that there are some places so special that they should be protected for visitors to enjoy away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This new policy carelessly ignores those longstanding protections for backcountry areas.”

Earlier this summer hundreds of trail advocates and conservation groups sent a joint letter to federal land management officials opposing any effort to allow e-bikes on non-motorized trails.  The letter noted that non-motorized trails were created to ensure that the public could find recreational trail opportunities free from the ever-growing motorization. It pointed out that millions of public land users including hikers, backpackers, hunters, horse packers, climbers, mountain bikers and many more, value non-motorized trails for recreation. Opening non-motorized trails to motorized e-bikes would forever change the backcountry experience for many users.

“What has happened to the management of our public lands?” asked Darrell Wallace, Chairman of the Back Country Horsemen of America. “We’ve worked for decades to engage with these agencies, and other user groups, as partners in order to build and maintain a wonderful system of safe trails throughout the nation’s public lands. This abrupt change in long-standing policy came from below the radar—they didn’t bother to ask anyone’s opinion. What does this say to the thousands of volunteers who have played by the rules over the years? That the manufacturers of these motorized machines are more important than the citizens who use and maintain these trails, and the safety issues that accompany multi-use trails?”

Trail advocates and conservation groups are quick to point out that e-bikes should be welcomed on public lands but not everywhere and not on every trail. Conservationist and trail advocates are clear that e-bikes are motorized vehicles and should be managed as such. They point out that the existing motorized trail system provides plenty of opportunity for e-bikes use with tens of thousands of miles of trails on public lands, including many iconic trails, currently open to their use. 

“The outdoors are for everyone, whether enjoying human powered recreation or riding something with a motor. But sweeping changes to existing e-bike policy cannot be made without public input from all impacted user groups. Permitting e-bike use on trails that have been thoughtfully and specifically designated as non-motorized raises questions of safety and trail sustainability that must be considered,” said Tyler Ray, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the American Hiking Society. “Making this change behind closed doors undermines the long-standing collaborative relationships between trail users and federal agencies.”

“The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail is designated for hikers and horseback riders and goes through 48 wilderness areas. While the trail enjoys great protections, threats to those quiet, non-mechanized forms of recreation are ever present. Some people are working hard to open the PCT and all wilderness areas to mountain bikes. So far, Congress and federal land managers have rightly resisted these attempts,” said Mark Larabee, Associate Director of The Pacific Crest Trail Association.  “The Pacific Crest Trail Association is not opposed to mountain bikes or e-bikes, and we believe they should have their place on public land. But we believe reclassifying battery-powered bikes as non-motorized not only would be illogical, it would displace mountain bikes without motors. More importantly, it would be a paradigm shift in otherwise sound government policy that could affect trails and wilderness areas across the country.”  

“Let’s be clear e-bikes are motorized vehicles,” said Michael Carroll, Senior Director of the People Outdoors Program at The Wilderness Society.  “Secretary Bernhardt’s policy change paves the way for the complete motorization of America’s remaining wild places.  The Trump Administration has made it a standard practice to create new policies and management rules with industry behind closed doors and this is more of the same. This new policy will forever change the experience for backcountry trail users.  Families that have sought out non-motorize areas to hunt, fish, hike, camp and simply get away from the noise and chaos of daily life will now have their special get-away spots opened up to motors.”

CLICK HERE to see the original article on the American Hiking Society publication.

Contact:
Tyler Ray, American Hiking Society, tray@americanhiking.org, 301-565-6704 (x705)
Randy Rasmussen, Back Country Horsemen of America, WildernessAdvisor@bcha.org, 541-602-0713
Angela Gonzales, National Parks Conservation Association, agonzales@npca.org, 202-878-0359
Mark Larabee, Pacific Crest Trail Association, mlarabee@pcta.org, 503-880-5987
Michael Carroll, The Wilderness Society, michael_carroll@tws.org, 970-9469043

AUGUST 30, 2019: The Secretary of the Interior today signed Order Number 3376 that adopts the e-bike industry’s class structure and pushes land management agencies to open their non-motorized trails to this form of motorized recreation. The Order sets the path for agencies like the National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management to allow all 3 classes of e-Bikes on trails that are currently designated for mountain bike use.

Fortunately, e-Bikes won’t be instantly added to trails on DOI lands. Each agency will first have to promulgate rules via the formal rule-making process, which includes public notice and opportunities for public comment. But the new policy to allow Class 1, 2 and 3 bikes on trails will be baked into the proposed rule changes.

E-bike designations (Class 1, 2 and 3) were written by a trade organization to do three things: (1) open previously non-motorized trails to motorized vehicles, (2) evade enforcement, and (3) sell more e-bikes. This class definition is being adopted by state and local legislators who don’t understand that opening a non-motorized trail to any class of e-bike, virtually opens the trail to all e-bikes. Here’s why.

THE CLASS DISTINCTION
Class-1 and Class-2 electric bicycles have less than 750 watts and cease to provide power when the bike exceeds 20 miles per hour. The only difference is that a Class-1 electric bike provides power only when the rider is pedaling while a Class-2 electric bike does not require any pedaling to dole out its power. That is done with a twist grip throttle or thumb push throttle. The Class-3 electric motorized bike cuts its power off when the bike reaches 28 miles per hour no matter how you are applying the power.

A TRADE ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED THIS CLASS STRUCTURE
E-bike trade organizations drafted the model legislation that adopts the class structure. Larry Pizzi, Vice President of the Bicycle Products Suppliers Association (BPSA) and chairman of the association’s eBike committee recently committed that, “2019 is going to be a watershed year in moving our 3-class e-bike legislation, nationally. Thanks to the contributing members of the industry for your support in funding this work and to Morgan Lommele and the team at People for Bikes for your dedication, now in our 5th year.”
Once the classes were defined, the trade organization made sure identifying the class of an e-bike was difficult for consumers and next to impossible for a land management agency when the bike is being motored along on a natural-surface trail or bike path.

PUT ON YOUR READING GLASSES
The legislation requires that “manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles shall apply a label that is permanently affixed, in a prominent location, to each electric bicycle. The label shall contain the classification number, top assisted speed, and motor wattage of the electric bicycle, and shall be printed in Arial font in at least 9-point type.”
The text you are reading right now is 12-point type. But before you can read the tiny 9-point type, you have to find it. Good luck. Visit an e-bike retailer and try to find the label on a few different brands (or on different models from the same brand). Don’t feel bad if you can’t find the label. Retail sales staff had trouble finding them or couldn’t find them for me on some models. Clicking on the above photo will enlarge it so you can read the class sticker.
“Permanently affixed” turns out to be a sticker* and “prominent location” seems to be at the bottom of the seat tube* (an area tough to view if a rider is on the bike). The bike’s brand, model name and frame size are easy to find and read but this info is in larger type and positioned in what is truly a prominent location (like the bike’s head tube, top tube or chainstay).

DIY E-BIKES
States that adopt the model legislation overlook a large source of electric-motorized bicycles. Your garage! Kits are readily available from eBay and Amazon that convert the bicycle in your garage into an e-bike. Manufacturers like Bafang sell their kits direct to consumers. These kits can produce power way above the “legal” 750-watt limit and since the legislation is worded for “manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles,” these kit sellers don’t need to comply to a class designation sticker.

CONSUMER DIRECT
Consumers can buy directly from a manufacturer and assemble an e-bike themselves. These bikes, sometimes imported directly from a foreign country to the consumer’s home, will not have the designation sticker and it is not hard to find models that exceed even the Class-3 definition.

E-BIKES THAT ARE BOTH
Samson Electric Bikes offer an attractive range of electric-motorized beach cruisers and mountain bikes. While not as technically sophisticated as a $10,000 super e-bike, they offer a feature that allows the bike to be ridden as a Class-1 or a Class- 2 e-bike. The rider simply programs the bike. Does that make it illegal to operate on trails that only permit Class-1 e-bikes because it could be ridden as a Class-2 bike? Or does the rider simply switch to Class 1 when they see a ranger?

HOT RODDING E-BIKES
E-bikes can be modified to exceed the limits set by the model legislation. That means the Class-1 e-bike you purchased can be fitted with an internal component that is undetectable. The bike will still have a Class-1 sticker on it (if the operator hasn’t removed it) although it could greatly exceed the speed and power limits. These modifications would not be visible to a ranger.

MANUFACTURERS ARE ALREADY GAMING THE SYSTEM
Luna e-bikes implies that their customers can ride their Class-3 bikes undetected on trails and Suru shows how a motorcycle-like bicycle is legally considered an e-bike under the model legislation.

LIMITING WATTS DOESN’T LIMIT POWER
The website ebikeschool.com explains that using wattage as the limit of an e-bike’s power is inaccurate and misleading. In their article, “The Myth of E-Bike Wattage” they explain that “limiting the wattage of e-bike motors doesn’t necessarily limit how powerful they can be. Even though a motor is marked as 250 watts (and even if it may actually be a true 250-watt motor), anyone could connect it to a 48V battery and run 20 amps through the motor to achieve 1,000 watts of power.”

OPENING OUR TRAILS TO MOTORIZED RECREATION
The belief that a land management agency can restrict their trails to only Class-1 e-bikes is a myth. Unsuspecting land managers who open their trails to Class-1 e-bikes are essentially opening their trails to all electric-motorized bicycles (including all bicycles converted with electric-motorized kits).

E-bikes are motorized vehicles and a developing technology that is generally inconsistent with a park experience. These motorized vehicles should be welcomed and encouraged on trails designated for motorized recreational activities. They need to be restricted from non-motorized, natural-surface trails.

Optibike claims their e-bike, that is sold consumer direct, has a “top speed of 36 miles per hour and hill climbing ability that is unmatched in the e-bike world.”

Can any park ranger identify the class of this bike? Probably not.

About the author: Jim “Jimmy Mac” McIlvain was Editor of Mountain Bike Action Magazine and Road Bike Action Magazine and a contributing editor of Electric Bike Action Magazine. He has been used as a resource by land management agencies in developing e-bike and mountain bike policy. He welcomes feedback or questions from land management agencies, retailers and riders who deal with e-bike issues. The Jimmy Mac On Two Wheels website is self-funded.
*Specialized, Trek, Cannondale, Haibike, Samson and Pedego retailers were visited for this story. Only Pedego displayed class identification that was easy to read and far larger than what is required by law. All labels were adhesive stickers.

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