[Jeff Higgins]

I know this is a controversial topic, and I have been rather torn over it myself. I'm referring to modern "e-bikes" and their use on bicycle trails. I believe it is time to ban them across the board from any and all bicycle trails. I'm fine with them in the bike lanes adjacent to public roads, just not on dedicated bike paths.

I'm now through my seventh month of my return to cycling. I ride virtually every day, a mix of bike lanes and bike paths, and some roads lacking bike lanes (although i do my best to avoid those). I've made a few observations in these seven months.

The most valid argument for the e-bike, and one I have made myself, is that they allow people of disparate fitness and ability to ride together. Maybe a husband is an avid cyclist and the wife is not, maybe an older guy wants to keep up with a younger friend, or son, or whatever. I'm here to tell you, however, I simply do not see these people on the bike trail. My seat of the pants guesstimate would be that less than 1% of those I see on the bike trail fit this description.

What I do see on the bike trails are those that are flagrantly breaking every law, every rule for the use of an e-bike on those trails. I believe our trails are restricted to class 1 and class 2 bikes. The speed limit on all of our local trails is 15 mph. Hah! Again, a seat of the pants guestimate, but I would suggest that 90% of e-bike riders are exceeding that speed limit. Most of them by quite a lot. I understand that pedal assist stops at 20 mph on class 1 and 2, 28 mph on class 3. That's still 1/3 again the speed limit even on the slowest two classes, and darn near double on the fastest class.

Never mind any of those inconvenient technicalities, though. People are riding those clearly illegal class 3 bikes with impunity. The class 1 and 2 bikes have simple hacks available to increase their pedal assist speeds as well. Every day I see riders ripping down the bike trail at well over 30 mph, some at least 40 mph. Plus, I see clearly illegal electric stand-up scooters (skateboards with handlebars) and these mono-wheel lean forward to go forward and backwards to go backwards things on our trails every day. The attitude is that if it's electric, I can use it on the bike path.

The speed differential between these and pedal powered bikes is bad enough. How about the stroller moms, the little kids on training wheels, or their little walking bikes? How about the dog walkers, the joggers, and those out for a pleasant stroll? The bike path is supposed to be everyone's safe haven from the speeds of motorized traffic. Bike paths, under current conditions of allowing e-bikes, no longer serve that purpose.

I have to say, this is yet another case where they have been given an inch and have taken a mile. The bad actors have ruined it for the responsible riders who follow the rules. And, unfortunately, the former are in the majority and the latter in the (very small) minority. Another case where the 90% have ruined it for the 10%.

So, I can't believe I'm saying this, but after seven months of darn near getting run over by e-bikes ripping past me at 40 mph (with no audible warning, no bell, no "on your left", nothing) I've had it. After coming upon more than one instance in which such an e-bike rider did actually hit someone, I've had it. This experiment in allowing some e-bikes on the bike trails has failed. Human nature has, once again, reared its ugly head. It's now become apparent that the only way to keep these trails safe for pedestrians and pedal bike riders is to bannish all motor vehicles back to the streets. We can thank those self centered ass holes who seem to have to take advantage of everything.