Debate continues over whether to allow pedal-assist e-mountain bikes on Forest Service singletrack trails
(Update: Adding video, comments from e-bike users, Forest Service)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- The U.S. Forest Service bans the use of e-bikes on all of its trails, which means it's illegal to ride e-bikes on the Bend area’s popular singletrack trails, to the dismay of some and support of others.
"The Forest Service nationally in 2022 released their policy, guidance and directives that said e-bikes are considered a motorized vehicle," Lisa Machnik, Forest Service Recreation Heritage Lands and Staff Officer said.
That directive means e bikes are not allowed on trails designated for walking or non motorized bikes.
Erich Ryll is a part of the group Bend e-Mt. Bike Access, and he says 80 people in the group are in favor of having all public trails be open to Class 1, pedal-assist e-bike use.
"In 2019, I had a medical condition that gave me shortness of breath, and my conventional e-bike -- my conventional mountain bike -- and I ended up getting off my bike and walking it up Phil's Traill's complex," Ryll said.
Jay Feinstein rides an e-bike but stays away from trails because he believes their design can be problematic.
"On truly technical singletracks, they don't work, They're too heavy," he said. "Technically, they're bad for the rider, and it's bad for the other bicyclists. But if someone wants to do that, it's alright with me."
Ryll said he reached out to the Deschutes National Forest, which in turn referred him to the nonprofit Deschutes Trail Coalition. He has met twice with the executive director.
Ryll stressed that they are only seeking trail access to Class 1, pedal-assist e-MTBs "to keep us healthy and active."
On Thursday, the e-Mt. Bike Access group held a town hall meeting to gather opinions.
The Forest Service points out in order for the e bike trail policy to change, a study would have to take place in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.
Machnik added, "The NEPA process has us do essentially an environmental analysis, where the specialists -- so everything from the biologists, everything in between -- a soil specialist take a look at the current conditions and does an assessment of a change."
The Forest Service said environmental testing does take quite some time. The process includes public input before a decision is finalized.
Ryll noted that the Tahoe and Allegheny national forests have conducted NEPA-required studies and opened up their trails for Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes several years ago, but there has been no such movement by the Forest Service locally.
