Efforts to allow e-bikes on trails have already drawn significant pushback, likely offering a preview of the debates to come.
When the Trump administration announced a plan to allow all e-bikes on trails allowing bikes at national parks, a group called Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility filed a lawsuit claiming the government didn’t follow the appropriate process for assessing the effects of the change. The Biden administration later gave park superintendents the authority to ban e-bikes, and last month a judge ordered the government to take a closer look at e-bike impacts.
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy spokesperson Cy Philbrick said the Yakima nonprofit’s awaiting more information before formalizing its unofficial rule of allowing e-bikes on its trails. He said the construction of the trails generally restricts speed and their regulations ask all bikers to stay below 15 miles per hour.
