Should e-bikes be allowed on forest trails?

Asked by KTVZ

2,279 Votes

Should e-bikes be allowed on forest trails?

29%

Yes Yes

71%

No No

29%

Yes

10 Comments

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.

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.

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.

Dave Custer

Let people ride whatever they want

💛🖤 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!

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.

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.

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

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...?

Erik Thompson

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

71%

No

19 Comments

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

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.

island er

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

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.

Dianne Price

People only!!

Gatekeeping our public lands, eh? Pathetic.

Rick Allen

It is a motorized Vehicle period.

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.

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.

Mark Davis

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

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

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.

💛🖤 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!!

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.

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.

James Rosser

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

Geoff Freeland

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

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

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.

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.

Ed Drahos

Not a fan of more trash and junk strone all over national forest. There's a serious problem with waste as is, without making the problem worse.

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.

Gary Kayser

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

Jo Kendrick

They run over people and scare pets.

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.

Is someone who lets their pet off-leash in restricted areas considered a 'bad pet owner?'

Asked by KTVZ

807 Votes

Is someone who lets their pet off-leash in restricted areas considered a 'bad pet owner?'

70%

Yes Yes

30%

No No

70%

Yes

6 Comments

Kristi Murdock

Even a friendly dog with excellent recall can cause real problems for the owner walking their reactive dog on leash; a dog running free is highly exciting to other dogs; it's not fair for the owner of the reactive dog to have to deal with that overstimulation in a "leash only" area.

robert weber

I recently I commented that it is not fair. But your comment makes me feel incorrect. I have had a reactive dog before and I feel that your comment is valid.

Kati Magana

If it is a law and you break it regardless of what it refers to that is breaking the law- which by definition is criminal. If you put your pet in a situation that is unsafe that is your responsibility and ergo you are a bad pet owner. Pets are like our kids, it's our job to keep them safe.

Kim Ritchie

yes because they are putting their dog as well as people with leashed pets at risk. Not all dogs like other dogs and not all people are comfortable with strange dogs running up to them.

Ann Thomas

There are laws and rules for a reason. No one should think that laws and rules don't apply to them. If they want their dog off leash then go out in the woods where no one else is or to a fenced dog park.

Deborah Albright

BECAUSE most dog owners that do this have zero respect for others or property.. NEVER pick up poop and feel entitled

Nic Secor

There are leash laws for good reason. On a side note Bend Parks and Recreation need to put up signs at dog parks reminding owners that they are liable for damages their dogs cause to other dogs or humans under Oregon law. Bend PD treat dog parks like they are outside of their jurisdiction.

30%

No

4 Comments

Amanda Jones

A bad dog owner is someone who is not able to care of the animal or mistreats the animal. The person is just not considerate of others and will break the law for whatever reason they may have. *if you have an aggressive dog it is the OWNERS responsibility to keep the dog under control anywhere

Payton Dixson

There are many factors, if your dog has great recall and obeys to stay in a heal being off leash is fine as the dog is still in verbal control. Dogs that do not listen should not be off leash.

k san

No, that's too big a generalization. However, those owners should never let their pet off-leash in those areas.

robert weber

Maybe there pet is trusted and not reactive. Why does a none relative happy pet need to be restricted?

Do you recycle?

79%

Always Always

21%

Never Never

79%

Always

It helps the environment.

It helps the environment. Show Less

22 Comments

Susan Mclaughlin

I try whenever I can.

Barry Rashford

If we want a plastic ocean then we should continue to do what we are doing.

k san

Because it is the right thing to do.

Stuart Alpert

hello

Larry Ewart

As much as possible

Sarah Croom

I do but I go rounds w/ my guy. Ever since China stopped taking our recycling he stopped doing it. Idk if all that is real, I have noticed that our garbage guy just loads both cans into the same dump bin & it’s not sorted. So that’s really disturbing. Every little bit helps I feel. I rec. everything

Carolyn Morris

Always, I Re Use Water Bottles.

Misty Schrotberger

My mom has a cow if we don't

kaycstamper

I do what I can but live in an area where they don't have it. Still I save bottles and cardboard to take to recycling. I cook from scratch so don't really have cans.

Michael Stafford

It is the least we can do to preserve our resources.

Julie Brantley

We pay by the pound for certain items so why not pay less and recycle - it's the right thing to do for me and the environment.

JoãoVitorJ J

Yes, I recycle

Milena Santana

because it helps the environment

Cornelia H. Dunnings

I like to help the environment. I even pick up cans & bottles near my car in parking lots.

Joyce Koch

I feel I'm helping out.

Linda Jeffcoat Amick

Why not?

gena

Although I can only hope that it's useful because there is no proof that what is supposedly sent to the recyclers they actually carry through. You always hear about it not being done.

Evey G Quines

It's the least I can do

Bonita Davis

We take our own garbage to the dump and pay by the pound. Recycling is free so the more we recycle the less we have to pay.

Jill Hoadley Chalk

It's important to reuse as many things as possible.

Ann Wilbanks

Our duty to recycle. If it goes to the landfill, it piles up. Be responsible!!

Rachel Clara Smith

Of course! Everyone should recycle!

BJ Arey

We recycle everything possible. We also take cloth bags shopping, use insulated bag with blue ice for cold items & take reusable containers to restaurants for leftovers to take home.