National Park Service Announces Policy for Electric Bicycle Use in National Parks
Date: August 30, 2019
Contact: NewsMedia@nps.gov
Credit: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/ebikepolicy.htm
Use of e-bikes will increase access to recreational opportunities in parks
WASHINGTON – On August 30, the National Park Service
announced a new electric bicycle (e-bike) policy for national parks,
expanding recreational opportunities and accessibility. The policy
supports Secretary’s Order 3376,
signed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt on August 29,
that directs Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus to create a clear
and consistent e-bike policy on all federal lands managed by the
Department. The policy also supports Secretary’s Order 3366 to increase recreational opportunities on public lands.
A majority of states have adopted e-bike policies, most following model
legislation that allows for the 3 classes of e-bikes to have access to
bicycle trails. The NPS e-bike policy seeks to provide some consistency
with the state rules applying where park units are located.
“As more Americans are using e-bikes to enjoy the great outdoors,
national parks should be responsive to visitors’ interest in using this
new technology wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so,” said
National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “They make
bicycle travel easier and more efficient, and they provide an option for
people who want to ride a bicycle but might not otherwise do so because
of physical fitness, age, disability, or convenience, especially at
high altitudes or in hilly or strenuous terrain.”
This new policy will enable visitors to use e-bikes, low-speed electric
bicycles with power assistance, in the same manner as traditional
bicycles, allowing them on park roads, paved or hardened trails, areas
designated for off-road motor vehicle use and administrative roads where
traditional bikes are allowed. The operator of an e-bike may only use
the motor to assist pedal propulsion. The motor may not be used to
propel an e-bike without the rider also pedaling, except in locations
open to public motor vehicle traffic.
Similar to traditional bicycles, e-bikes are not allowed in designated
wilderness areas. Park superintendents will retain the right to limit,
restrict, or impose conditions of bicycle use and e-bike use in order to
ensure visitor safety and resource protection. Over the coming month,
superintendents will work with their local communities, staff and
partners to determine best practices and guidance for e-bike use in
their parks. Visitors should check the website of the park they plan to visit for details about where e-bikes are permitted and any other considerations specific to that park.
E-bikes make bicycle travel easier and more efficient, because they
allow bicyclists to travel farther with less effort. When used as an
alternative to gasoline- or diesel-powered modes of transportation,
e-bikes can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption,
improve air quality, and support active modes of transportation for
park staff and visitors. Similar to traditional bicycles, e-bikes can
decrease traffic congestion, reduce the demand for vehicle parking
spaces, and increase the number and visibility of cyclists on the road.
A copy of the National Park Service’s new e-bike policy is available online.
Safety information and Frequently Asked Questions are on the Electric Bicycles (e-bikes) in National Parks website.
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
