For now, e-bike riders can cycle through national park trails without worry. But this could change following a court case that instructed the National Park Service (NPS) to “take a hard look” at the impact of e-bikes in parks.
The NPS e-bike saga began in 2019. At the time, P. Daniel Smith, acting director of the NPS, issued the Smith Directive. This directive instructed parks to treat e-bikes like traditional bicycles and allow them on park trails. In response, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) filed a lawsuit challenging the rule in December 2019. The plaintiffs argued that the Smith Directive failed to conduct necessary environmental reviews.
On May 24, 2022, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras issued a decision on the case. The ruling directed the NPS to analyze the impacts of e-bikes on national park trails.
“As a result of PEER’s lawsuit, National Parks will now need to take a hard look at how to avoid user conflicts with the heavier, faster moving e-bikes, the impacts e-bikes will have on wildlife along backcountry trails, and the potential damage from e-bike use on unpaved trails,” PEER announced in a statement.
Part of this analysis includes public commentary. On June 20, 2023, the NPS announced an “open comment period,” inviting input from members of the public on the potential impacts of e-bikes in national parks.
“E-bikes can have many benefits for parks and visitors including making travel easier, expanding access for those with physical limitations, and providing healthy recreation opportunities,” the NPS said in a news release. “At the same time, the NPS must manage this emerging form of access and recreation, like others that occur in park areas, in a manner that protects park resources, values, and visitors.”
People interested in offering input on the topic can comment online. Feedback can also be mailed or hand-delivered to the address provided here. The comment period closes on July 21, 2023.