How are those bikers going so fast \u2014 uphill?<\/p>\n
E-bikes, of course.<\/p>\n
Electric bicycles, or e-bikes, are becoming increasingly popular nationwide. These traditional-looking bicycles are equipped with an electric motor that can be used to assist riders in a variety of ways, whether it\u2019s giving the cycler a boost while they pedal or allowing them to choose between using their legs or the all-around electric motor to propel them.<\/p>\n
On June 4, 2018, Snowmass Town Council approved Class 1 e-bikes on paved trails only. As these bikes gain popularity, questions and concerns are arising about trail sharing with e-bikes.<\/p>\n
The most important thing to remember is to operate e-bikes on local paved trails at safe speeds. This isn\u2019t just proper trail behavior; it is absolutely crucial to maintain a high standard of safety for all trail users.<\/p>\n
According to Rails to Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a national network of trails along former rail lines, trail-user conflicts caused by speed are believed to be more about behavior than technology.<\/p>\n
For example, an average, healthy person cycles roughly 13 miles per hour, a Tour de France racer averages about 25 miles per hour and an e-bike can reach speeds as fast as 20 miles per hour \u2014 but regardless, all cyclists have the potential to cause speed-related conflicts, the conservancy.<\/p>\n
While e-bikes have the potential to exacerbate trail conflicts, it is most important to educate all cyclists and trail users about trail etiquette. In order to maintain a safe experience for everyone, cyclists using an e-bike or a regular bike must respect the experiences of pedestrians, other cyclists and other trail users by using safe speeds and signaling when passing.<\/p>\n
In short, it is user behavior, not the technology of an e-bike, which determines the trail experience.<\/p>\n