In the state of West Virginia we are seeing proposed legislation to increase opportunities and access on public lands. One of those bills is Senate Bill 560. This bill addresses the use of electric bicycles or e-bikes, on public lands and trails where human powered bikes are allowed.
With increased popularity of e-bikes over the last couple of years we are seeing this issue occur regularly across the country. E-bikes have created an entirely new user group that public lands have not addressed previously. Oftentimes e-bike users are those with some type of physical limitation and the bike simply assists them on trails they otherwise wouldn’t be able to use on a human powered bicycle.
We are tracking this issue in several states throughout several bills and project proposals from federal land agencies. West Virginia is leading the charge in this important issue that will only become more pertinent. Send a quick comment using our action tool below to support recreation access for all users, especially those with physical limitations.
Ebikes create no more trail maintenance than reg bikes. I ride an ebike and if you want me to come ride wva please vote to allow ebikes on public land.
SB560 passed through the Senate but it never made it out of House judiciary committee. The House had their own bill too, but it out of judiciary either. It seems the problem is in the House.