E-bike Policy Evaluation
Informing future trail access
Table of contents
Evaluating E-bikes in Open Spaces
Why it matters: The 2022 E-Bike Policy Evaluation by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District assesses the potential for Class 1 and 2 electric bicycle (e-bike) access on paved and unpaved trails. This comprehensive evaluation provides data-driven recommendations for balancing recreational use with environmental protection.
Context:
Pilot Programs: A one-year pilot program for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes on paved multi-use trails in Rancho San Antonio and Ravenswood Preserves was conducted, along with intercept surveys in Santa Clara County Parks to study e-bike use on unpaved trails.
Findings: The study included surveys of trail users, wildlife impact assessments, and noise studies. Key takeaways include support for Class 1 e-bikes on paved trails from 68% of respondents, while only 42% supported Class 2 e-bikes. Observational data indicated minimal negative behavior differences between e-bike and regular bike users.
Go deeper: The evaluation recommends several actions, such as:
• Allowing Class 1 e-bikes on all district trails where bicycles are permitted.
• Continuing the e-bike study for an additional year to gather more data.
• Implementing an unpaved e-bike pilot program on select preserves to evaluate environmental impacts.
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