After years of predictions on what USDA would do about e-bikes, USDA finally issued their updated guidance for e-bikes on their public lands. This was in response to e-bike retailers, the trail-using public and a couple of lawsuits protesting adding motorized bikes to non-motorized trails. The ultimate decision to add e-bikes to non-motorized trails is not a given. The updated guidance also outlines the required environmental analysis and public input required before making future decisions to expand local e-bike access.
(Photo credit: REI Co-op)
PRESS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service Issues Guidance to Manage Future E-Bike Use on National Forests and Grasslands
Washington, March 31, 2022 -
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is announcing that internal guidance on how future e-bike use is managed on national forests and grasslands has been finalized. The updated guidance clarifies existing policy and provides guidelines to local Forest Service employees that may be considering expanding e-bike access at site-specific locations.
The Forest Service currently allows e-bikes on all Forest Service roads that are already open to motorized vehicles, as well on 60,000 miles of motorized trails, which represent 38% of all trails the agency manages. Today’s finalized guidance allows e-bikes to continue to operate on currently-authorized roads and trails, and lays out a process to evaluate future requests for expanded access. The updated guidance also outlines the required environmental analysis and public input required before making future decisions to expand local e-bike access.
“National forests and grasslands are a place for all people to recreate, relax and refresh,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “The additional guidance will help our district rangers and forest supervisors better serve their communities with a policy that allows managers to make locally based decisions to address e-bike use. This growing recreational activity is another opportunity to responsibly share the experience of the outdoors with other recreationists.”
The Forest Service manages nearly 160,000 miles of trails in 42 states and Puerto Rico for a variety of activities. E-biking is one of many legitimate recreational activities, such as horseback riding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking and backpacking, that the agency manages under its multiple use mission. The clarified guidance will support local Forest Service decision-makers as they consider opportunities to expand access for this emerging user group.
To read the complete Press Release CLICK HERE.
Read the e-bike policy here. <https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies>
Forest Service Directives
The Forest Service on March 31 issued final directives that clarify how electric bicycles (e-bikes) are managed on National Forest System lands. Final changes were made to Forest Service Manual 7700 Travel Management – Zero Code and to 7710 Travel Management – Travel Planning.
The directives add a definition of e-bikes as a class of motor vehicle and establishes criteria for consideration in designating roads, trails, and areas for e-bike use that are not currently designated for motor vehicle use, among other changes.
Other voices in response to the new directives:
FROM THE POST INDEPENDENT, COLORADO
"The national directive classifies e-bikes as a motorized use. Expansion of use onto nonmotorized trails is possible but must go through the agency’s regular environmental analysis process."
“Any proposed changes would go through a formal planning review including a (National Environmental Policy Act) analysis with opportunities for public comment.”"
FROM THE BICYCLE RETAILER
The U.S. Forest Service finalized e-bike guidance for local land managers considering expanding access on trails and grasslands. Although e-bikes are still classified by the Forest Service as motor vehicles, land managers now can recategorize trails from nonmotorized to motorized to allow access.
The Forest Service currently allows e-bikes on all its roads that are open to motorized vehicles, as well on 60,000 miles of motorized trails, which represent 38% of all trails the agency manages. The updated guidance also outlines the required environmental analysis and public input required before making future decisions to expand local e-bike access.
E-bike access to Forest Service trails prompted a lawsuit in 2019 by a group of trail and forest advocates. The group said the Forest Service allowed Class 1 e-bikes on nonmotorized trails in the Tahoe National Forest without conducting a public study. An Order of Dismissal was signed by the Department of Justice on March 31, 2020. Since then, the Tahoe National Forest included about 32 miles of trails in question into an existing assessment study — the East Zone Connect Project — that the USFS approved for Class 1 e-bike use in December 2020.
FROM THE SUMMIT DAILY
US Forest Service issues updated guidance to manage future e-bike use
The U.S. Forest Service issued official guidance regarding how electric bikes, or motorized bicycles commonly called e-bikes, can be managed on grassland and national forest land.
The updated guidelines distributed Thursday, March 31, offer clarity on existing policies and provides guidelines for local Forest Service administrators who might be considering the expansion of e-bike access.
The updated guidance allows e-bikes to continue to operate on all authorized roads and trails, and it highlights a process to evaluate future requests for expanded access on trails that are not currently authorized for motorized travel.
(Photo credit: REI Co-op)
PRESS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service Issues Guidance to Manage Future E-Bike Use on National Forests and Grasslands
Washington, March 31, 2022 -
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is announcing that internal guidance on how future e-bike use is managed on national forests and grasslands has been finalized. The updated guidance clarifies existing policy and provides guidelines to local Forest Service employees that may be considering expanding e-bike access at site-specific locations.
The Forest Service currently allows e-bikes on all Forest Service roads that are already open to motorized vehicles, as well on 60,000 miles of motorized trails, which represent 38% of all trails the agency manages. Today’s finalized guidance allows e-bikes to continue to operate on currently-authorized roads and trails, and lays out a process to evaluate future requests for expanded access. The updated guidance also outlines the required environmental analysis and public input required before making future decisions to expand local e-bike access.
“National forests and grasslands are a place for all people to recreate, relax and refresh,” said Forest Service Chief Randy Moore. “The additional guidance will help our district rangers and forest supervisors better serve their communities with a policy that allows managers to make locally based decisions to address e-bike use. This growing recreational activity is another opportunity to responsibly share the experience of the outdoors with other recreationists.”
The Forest Service manages nearly 160,000 miles of trails in 42 states and Puerto Rico for a variety of activities. E-biking is one of many legitimate recreational activities, such as horseback riding, snowmobiling, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, hiking and backpacking, that the agency manages under its multiple use mission. The clarified guidance will support local Forest Service decision-makers as they consider opportunities to expand access for this emerging user group.
To read the complete Press Release CLICK HERE.
Read the e-bike policy here. <https://www.fs.usda.gov/about-agency/regulations-policies>
Forest Service Directives
The Forest Service on March 31 issued final directives that clarify how electric bicycles (e-bikes) are managed on National Forest System lands. Final changes were made to Forest Service Manual 7700 Travel Management – Zero Code and to 7710 Travel Management – Travel Planning.
The directives add a definition of e-bikes as a class of motor vehicle and establishes criteria for consideration in designating roads, trails, and areas for e-bike use that are not currently designated for motor vehicle use, among other changes.
Other voices in response to the new directives:
FROM THE POST INDEPENDENT, COLORADO
"The national directive classifies e-bikes as a motorized use. Expansion of use onto nonmotorized trails is possible but must go through the agency’s regular environmental analysis process."
“Any proposed changes would go through a formal planning review including a (National Environmental Policy Act) analysis with opportunities for public comment.”"
FROM THE BICYCLE RETAILER
The U.S. Forest Service finalized e-bike guidance for local land managers considering expanding access on trails and grasslands. Although e-bikes are still classified by the Forest Service as motor vehicles, land managers now can recategorize trails from nonmotorized to motorized to allow access.
The Forest Service currently allows e-bikes on all its roads that are open to motorized vehicles, as well on 60,000 miles of motorized trails, which represent 38% of all trails the agency manages. The updated guidance also outlines the required environmental analysis and public input required before making future decisions to expand local e-bike access.
E-bike access to Forest Service trails prompted a lawsuit in 2019 by a group of trail and forest advocates. The group said the Forest Service allowed Class 1 e-bikes on nonmotorized trails in the Tahoe National Forest without conducting a public study. An Order of Dismissal was signed by the Department of Justice on March 31, 2020. Since then, the Tahoe National Forest included about 32 miles of trails in question into an existing assessment study — the East Zone Connect Project — that the USFS approved for Class 1 e-bike use in December 2020.
FROM THE SUMMIT DAILY
US Forest Service issues updated guidance to manage future e-bike use
The U.S. Forest Service issued official guidance regarding how electric bikes, or motorized bicycles commonly called e-bikes, can be managed on grassland and national forest land.
The updated guidelines distributed Thursday, March 31, offer clarity on existing policies and provides guidelines for local Forest Service administrators who might be considering the expansion of e-bike access.
The updated guidance allows e-bikes to continue to operate on all authorized roads and trails, and it highlights a process to evaluate future requests for expanded access on trails that are not currently authorized for motorized travel.
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