Central Oregon's News Leader - KTVZ NewsChannel 21, Bend, Oregon
Should e-bikes be allowed on forest trails?
KTVZ Asked by KTVZ
2,247 Votes

Should e-bikes be allowed on forest trails?

Yes

16

No

18

Yes

16 Comments
MATT FALKENSTEIN DDS
2
MATT FALKENSTEIN DDS

Anyone who has pedaled a Class 1 ebike (the ONLY type in contention) quickly realizes two things: first, they don't go any faster than a meat-motor bike and second, they REQUIRE work from the rider.

Reply
Todd Brown
2
Todd Brown

Yes,,Ebikes should be allowed on trails! Why wouldn't they be allowed? Mine has "Pedal Assist" which I am peddling at all times.

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Carl England
2
Carl England

Ya’ll need to understand. These are not the kids you see flying around town on throttle e-bikes. Mountain E bikes are quite expensive and are designed for mountain biking and for serious mountain bikers. Most of the people you will see on them initially will be people with disabilities.

Reply
Dave Custer
2
Dave Custer

Let people ride whatever they want

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💛🖤 RAG 💛🖤
2
💛🖤 RAG 💛🖤

Class 1 electric assist bikes should not be discriminated against, they are capped at a max of 20mph, provide assistance to the people who for whatever reason need assistance to tackle parts of the trails and they won't do any damage to the trails. Other national forests provide access already!

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Linda C May
2
Linda C May

I am 66 years old. I ride a ebike so I can get out on the trails & forests I love. Otherwise I couldn't. Not everyone is a speed junkie. There are many bike riders that speed and do damage to the land. Ebikes are here to stay. Stop penalizing them.

Reply
Loretta Ryll
1
Loretta Ryll

For many who have invisible disabilities, the Class I pedal-assisted e-mountain bikes, make it possible for these individuals to enjoy our forest single-track trails. They want to stay healthy and active. Class I ebikes are NOT the throttled ebikes we see zooming around the streets of Bend.

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Jim Petsche
0
Jim Petsche

They don't put any more damage to the trails than regular bikes and in many cases less. Generally they are ridden by older riders who go slower

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Duane Wyman
0
Duane Wyman

Not all trails are suitable or compatible for e-bikes and other users. What is next, e-bikes on the PCT or ridden to the summit Of South Sister...?

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Erik Thompson
0
Erik Thompson

I am 62 and my e mtn bike allows me to ride trails I'd otherwise never ride.

Reply

No

18 Comments
Peter McGann
4
Peter McGann

They are ridden frequently by inexperienced people. They have too much speed when approaching hikers. Many cannot stop adequately. Their silence is dangerous when approaching from behind. There should be drivers license requirements. Peter SNRA/ Ketchum pdmcgann@gmail.com

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True Omen
3
True Omen

E bike owners are mad they bought into the hype before reading the rules. If it has a motor it is a motor bike. Not my fault you are lazy. Mtb'ing is hard. It is not for everyone.

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island er
3
island er

Ebikes are motorized. They can already access forest roads and ohv trails. They are a hazard to mtbers on single track.

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Frank Dietsch
3
Frank Dietsch

They are motorized. I have been sprayed by dirt and gravel when the went flying by me at great speed and have seen them pop wheelies going up the steep trail. Motorized bikes belong on the many OHV trails.

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Dianne Price
CB
CB

Gatekeeping our public lands, eh? Pathetic.

Rick Allen
2
Rick Allen

It is a motorized Vehicle period.

Reply
Rob Pempin
2
Rob Pempin

E-bikers need do to do their own footwork to obtain land for E-bike trails just as we have done for Mtn bikes for years now. The excessive speeds especially climbing & entitlement is out of control. Stop taking the soul out of MTB biking, do the footwork & obtain the land.

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Dennis Bennett
2
Dennis Bennett

There are many ways to hack these ebikes and make them go over 20mph. https://www.ebicycles.com/how-to-make-your-ebike-faster/ Also, there will be no one to police the trails to make sure that on class 1 bikes are out there. For example, people illegally riding the trails with ebikes now.

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Mark Davis
2
Mark Davis

More power and speed will cause greater damage to the trails and create a dangerous situation for all users.

Reply
Loretta Ryll
Loretta Ryll

I encourage you and many others to rent a Class I pedal-assist emountain bike and then form an informed opinion. These bikes are not throttled, can't go above 20 mph, are not noisy and provide those with invisible handicaps some assistance so they can enjoy the thrill of biking our forested trails.

Todd Miller
2
Todd Miller

It's a motorcycle with peddles. Internal combustion engine motorcycles aren't allowed either for the same good reason, erosion and safety of the mixed speed of riders and hikers.

Reply
Loretta Ryll
Loretta Ryll

Class I pedal-assist emountain bikes are not throttled so no internal combustion, they are capped at 20 mph. No pedaling =equals NO power. I encourage you to Google the descriptions of the various classes of ebikes.

💛🖤 RAG 💛🖤
💛🖤 RAG 💛🖤

That's a lie, they have no throttle and are capped at a 20 mph no matter how hard you peddle! BTW damage to the trails is done by the speed demons on mountain bikes!!

Kimmy Wasatch
1
Kimmy Wasatch

There are more than enough parks and trails in and around Bend for ebikes. We do not need them in our forests. Forests are abused enough already and need to be reserved as forests.

Reply
James Rosser
1
James Rosser

Because mountain biking is for exercise not tourism. There are plenty of other places to ride e-bikes.

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Geoff Freeland
1
Geoff Freeland

As ebikes get more powerful, they create trail damage. Might as well allow motorcycles if you're gonna allow ebikes.

Reply
CB
CB

You obviously know nothing about class 1 ebikes and are just regurgitating nonsense you heard from an unreliable source.

Judith Van Gilder
1
Judith Van Gilder

These trails are mean for people who are out EXERCISING. There are plenty of FS roads where people with e-bikes can ride. Also available are plenty of dirt bike trails. Please leave these trails to those of us who are enjoying the peace and quiet.

Reply
CB
CB

Judith, please educate yourself before commenting. Class 1 ebikes are pedal assist, they aren't tearing up the trails any more than a regular mountain bike. They help people with disabilities and the older generation enjoy the great outdoors. Stop gatekeeping our public lands.

James Rosser
0
James Rosser

This misses the point of physical training which is to start exercising on easier trails and slowly build up to more challenging trails as one gets stronger. E-bikes are just a shortcut allowing one to jump to the more challenging trails without the proper training. People just want a magic pill.

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Gary Kayser
0
Gary Kayser

E-bike are indeed motorized. Cause more erosion to the trials. E-bikes are a death sentence to horseback riders.

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Jo Kendrick
0
Jo Kendrick

They run over people and scare pets.

Reply
Gerald Smith
0
Gerald Smith

They are wrecks waiting to happen with no enforcement of any of the rules. They should be required to follow the same rules as motorcycles. That's what they are.

Reply
Do you support a 5-year levy for Bend-La Pine Schools?
KTVZ Asked by KTVZ
190 Votes

Do you support a 5-year levy for Bend-La Pine Schools?

Yes

0

No

1

Yes

0 Comment
No one has commented yet

No

1 Comment
Latterdaysaint
0
Latterdaysaint

It raises property taxes and the district indoctrinates kids

Reply
Are you planning to attend an event at Hayden Homes Amphitheater this summer?
KTVZ Asked by KTVZ
327 Votes

Are you planning to attend an event at Hayden Homes Amphitheater this summer?

Yes

0

No

5

Yes

0 Comment
No one has commented yet

No

5 Comments
Lisa York
1
Lisa York

just like Mt B after a big corp bought them... tickets are way too expensive... greed, greed, greed

Reply
Jeff Sanders
0
Jeff Sanders

It is overpriced. I can hear the concert from home.

Reply
Rick Allen
0
Rick Allen

No interest, do not like crowds

Reply
Latterdaysaint
0
Latterdaysaint

It's greedy you are closing the park for concerts

Reply
Bendlover
Bendlover

Do you complain about everything? It seems that way.

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