Electric bike banned from Aspen cycle routes

[Tim]

This is interesting. There's a debate in Aspen about whether or not electric assist bikes should be permitted on the Rio Grande trail, brought to a head by a successful ebike rental business in the town that's renting out pedal-assist bikes rather than all-out twist and go bikes. Should they also be banned?

Here's the story: Electric bikes drive trail use debate in Aspen, Pitkin County | AspenTimes.com

The Aspen Times is running a poll.

Aspen Colorado | AspenTimes.com News

Maybe this sort of question will come up in the UK. Maybe it has already?

 

[lectureral]

I think we are in rather better shape because our laws set quite a low limit on what can be an electric bike and then specifically treats those as bikes per the legislation (the motor is ignored so long as it meets the strict criteria). I don't know if anyone has any experience of, eg, a "no motors" bye-law which discriminates against e-bikes though - I have never heard of it in the UK.

 

[Tim]

I think we are in rather better shape because our laws set quite a low limit on what can be an electric bike and then specifically treats those as bikes per the legislation (the motor is ignored so long as it meets the strict criteria). I don't know if anyone has any experience of, eg, a "no motors" bye-law which discriminates against e-bikes though - I have never heard of it in the UK.

Having spoken to someone who's closer to the situation, a local non-electric bike hire company has bent the interpretation of the law towards the 'no motors at all' position because their business has suffered due to the popularity of electric bike rental on the trail.

 

[Straylight]

That's what I call UNenlightened self interest.

 

[Tim]

That's what I call UNenlightened self interest.

By bent the interpretation of the law, I mean put up a whopping great sign at the start of the trail saying that ALL electric bikes are forbidden.

 

[Scimitar]

By bent the interpretation of the law, I mean put up a whopping great sign at the start of the trail saying that ALL electric bikes are forbidden.

It's the American Way. Scramble to the top of the pile and ** everyone else.

 

[lectureral]

eg, a "no motors" bye-law which discriminates against e-bikes though - I have never heard of it in the UK.

After rumination, I think in the UK any bye-law would prohibit "motor vehicles" and the definition of motor vehicles, by statute, does not include electric bikes which conform to the rules about maximum power etc.

 

[BertYardbrush]

It does beg the question about so-called off-road motors and ever so slightly bending the rules. We'd all like to go just a little bit faster - but where?

Are we all going to behave responsibly on the local cycleways or bomb down at 25mph to leave a trail of confused walkers dealing with their dazed dogs.

How much would it take to see the law properly enforced?