Durango City Council in late 2018 allowed Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on the Animas River Trail, the sidewalk along Florida Road, the Goeglein Gulch Road Trail, SMART 160 Trail and the Three Springs Trail.<\/p>\n
E-bikes are equipped with battery-powered motors and are available in commuting, touring and mountain biking models. Class 1 e-bikes assist riders while pedaling but not otherwise. Class 2 e-bikes can propel a bicycle without pedaling up to 20 mph.<\/p>\n
Residents in comments to the city criticized allowing e-bikes on natural-surface trails. Some cited safety concerns, others suggested e-bikes could damage dirt trails. Motorized vehicles are not allowed on natural-surface trails \u2013 allowing e-bikes on dirt trails could set a precedent to allow other motorized vehicles, some residents said.<\/p>\n
A number of solutions were offered Wednesday by a resident advisory board responsible for recommending public spending on natural land preservation:<\/p>\n Only allow e-bikes on user-specific and directional trails, not the existing system.<\/em>Plan and develop user-specific and directional trail systems with longer sight lines for uphill travel. <\/em>Increase park ranger presence on trails to educate users and enforce existing regulations and trail etiquette.<\/em>Consider e-bike trails in future open space acquisitions. <\/em>E-bikes are the fastest-growing market for bicycles worldwide, said Russell Zimmermann, owner of Durango Cyclery. Bicycle and motor companies are producing e-bikes, and the technology has been embraced in Asian-Pacific and European countries with the global e-bike market valued at $15.42 billion in 2019<\/a>, researchers found.<\/p>\n Zimmermann has ridden his e-bike on hard- and natural-surface trails around town, despite regulations, without issues, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m riding up Horse Gulch Road and there\u2019s a slower rider in front of me, I don\u2019t go flying past them. I try to respect people, you know, and not show off and go blazing past them,\u201d Zimmermann said in an interview. \u201cI try to be a good steward \u2013 if you use them responsibly, it\u2019s not going to ruin anyone\u2019s day.\u201d<\/p>\n Class 1 e-bikes with pedal assist allow riders to exert less effort to get up hills, but \u201cthe 20 mph bikes are no faster than a good, fit cyclist,\u201d Zimmerman said. E-bike technology is no different than other gear advantages for sports that have become more advanced over time.<\/p>\n