More and more pedelecs and ebikes are appearing on U.S. roads. According to statistics from the market research company NPD, sales of ebikes in the country increased by 240 percent between July 2020 and July 2021. In terms of this period, more bikes with electric assistance were sold than regular bikes. For the second year in a row, the number of ebikes and pedelecs sold doubled.
Against the background of this development, fundamental problems in dealing with such bicycles in the USA become even more apparent than before. These include the question of on which roads and paths riding pedelecs is permitted. There are no nationwide standardised regulations similar to the road traffic regulations that apply in Germany. Each state is allowed to pass its own regulations, which in turn leave the counties plenty of room for further specification. Wired magazine has just used three examples to show how the world’s leading industrial nation is looking for a permanent place for ebikes.
Example 1: Nashville, Tennessee
Ever changing direction, the Cumberland River winds through Nashville. Numerous bike paths run along its banks and through more than 120 parks. The so-called greenways stretch for a solid 150 kilometres. So far, pedelecs have been tolerated there at best. In many places, the state of Tennessee gives the go-ahead for ebikes whose motor assists up to a maximum speed of 28 miles per hour. The city of Nashville, on the other hand, prohibits them from accessing the greenways, even though this is apparently only sporadically controlled.
Disagreement among allies
Last summer, the local bikesharing provider BCycle converted its fleet completely to pedelecs. And with these, of course, people should be able to ride the greenways. As a result, a debate developed in which organisations that had previously pursued the same goals suddenly started to fight with each other. The association “Greenways for Nashville” claimed that the path network was more for pedestrians, because the paths could not be pavements and bike lanes at the same time. The “Walk Bike Nashville” initiative countered that the greenways were very much both. In general, they would be environmentally friendly transport routes that would be open to both groups of people.
Bike sharing company BCycle would like to be able to ride the Greenways in Nashville.
The decision on the future of the greenways will be made by the Nashville City Council. According to Wired, opinions among its members are also divided. Pedestrians could be frightened by ebikes approaching quickly and almost silently. Bicyclists, on the other hand, would be banished back to the streets, increasing the risk of accidents.
In order to allow all stakeholders to have their say, the city council commissioned a study to assess the situation. Within the framework of this study, residents were also able to vote for their preferred regulation. The study has not yet been evaluated.
Call for participation in a survey on ebike use on the greenways.
Example 2: New York, New York
Parks are not only to be found in Nashville, but also in New York. And yes, here too one encounters a very similar problem situation. Once again, urban institutions and businesses are at odds with each other. The parks department of the metropolis is in favour of maintaining the status quo and thus keeping pedelecs out. It considers the bikes to be “motorised vehicles” that are not allowed to use the paths according to the parks ordinance.
Lyft, the operator of the New York bike-sharing service “Citi Bike”, has a completely different opinion. It points out that ebikes have already been legalised by the city since 2020. Consequently, they should also be granted access to the parks. Local interest groups like “Transportation Alternatives” agree with Lyft. They point out how important such changes would be for the city to meet its own climate goals.
In New York, ebikes are now allowed on official bike lanes, but not yet in the city’s parks.
Example 3: Grand County, Utah
Change of scenery. Grand County in the state of Utah. A trendy address for outdoor fans worldwide and a mecca for the mountain bike community in the Rocky Mountains. Many ebikers probably also dream of exploring the trails around Moab and the surrounding area. At the moment, this is still relatively difficult. Pedelecs and ebikes are usually only allowed on asphalt bike paths here.
In Moab itself, the administrative seat of the county, only class 1 ebikes are allowed on the city trails. The same applies to the Mill Creek Parkway, a network of paths within the city intended for pedestrians, cyclists and rollerbladers. There, even a speed limit of 15 miles per hour must be observed. By European standards, that sounds like a severe restriction. In fact, local activists have worked hard to get this right granted in the first place.
Cyclists on the Mill Creek Parkway in Moab
Class 1 ebikes are allowed on two bike lanes in Grand County that run parallel to Highway 191 North and Highway 128 along the Colorado River as well. These were previously reserved exclusively for conventional bicycles. By the way, those who violate the regulations risk imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of a maximum of 1,000 US dollars.
Recreational fun or dangerous to the public?
In places like Grand County, discussions also revolve around the use of mountain bike trails by MTBs with and without motors. Local residents and conservationists repeatedly express concerns that ebikes could endanger both people and the preservation of nature due to the high motor power and higher speeds. Organisations such as “PeopleForBikes” point out that there is a lack of infrastructure for both leisure activities and commuting around urban areas. This statement would certainly be shared by many cycling associations from Europe with regard to their respective countries.
So far, only a few official trails are open to ebikers in the Rocky Mountains.
Background: Not all ebikes are the same
In the USA, class 1 ebikes are electric bicycles that are equipped with pedal assistance only and provide pedalling assistance up to a limit of 20 miles per hour. In addition, there are Classes 2 and 3, which have a throttle and motors, respectively, to assist up to a speed limit of 28 miles per hour.
Pictures: BCycle LLC; Lyft Inc; Greenways For Nashville; Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee; Moab Area Travel Council; Bureau of Land Management
