I started off pretty much dead against ebikes until a I learned more about them. Still not for me, and probably never will be. However, I pretty much don't care what other people ride, as long as they're not jerks about it. A jerk on a mountain bike is little different than a jerk on an ebike. I have many friends that are all aboard for an ebike, and I couldn't care less.
What I really don't get though, is the idea that some ebike-riders have that it's perfectly okay to go whizzing uphill on trails that other people descend. When I'm descending, I'm always looking for hikers, but there's just no way you can descend and be prepared to someone on a motorized bike zipping uphill toward you. Who gets priority there? The uphill rider (with a motor) or the downhill rider? Obviously directional signage would help, but using ebikes in this manner (as is already happening) is creating conflict where none existed, and it seems it's up to everyone else to figure it out. Not cool, and not cool for ebikes to be marketed by promoting uphill riding on steep singletracks clearly intended (and sometimes officially recognized on Section 57 trail applications) as downhill primary. < and yes, many applications include a statement of direction.
Another thing I'll be curious to track is WHEN ebikes are preferred. It makes sense that a motor will help you power through the mud and light snow a bit easier. Thus, the technology makes it much easier to go out and rip it up when the trails are most sensitive. Admittedly, you don't need a motor to do that, but it sure makes it a lot easier, especially if you want to lug a few extra pounds of fenders and goretex. The IMBA study from 2015 did not show any differences between MTB and eMTB, but was based on limited observations in set conditions, and explicitly stated that more research is needed. This may need to consider not just what the comparable impacts are, but what the impacts are based on the way the technology is used. Trail abuse is an issue for MTB and eMTB alike, and I would like to think that people that reach for an ebike will care about the trails as much as everyone else, but that may remain subject to debate. It is undeniable that ebikes facilitate riding in poor conditions...the only question is how the riders choose to behave.
Now that some groups are taking steps to recognize ebikes (like in Whistler) and recognize class-1 (limit 20mph/32kph) as acceptable on most trails, how will that be managed (i.e. enforced)? There are lots of examples of people hacking ebikes for more speed and output, and certainly the manufacturers will try to push the most gratifying product they can market. The manufacturers are clearly taking steps to make eMTBs as stealthy as possible to disguise their product. It will be interesting to see how that works out, as higher-powered bikes are inevitably cranked out, and those that ride them decide they want to ride them everywhere. It may be simple enough to identify the people on throttle driven bikes, but what about Class 3 ebikes (pedal-assist) with a max speed of 28mph (over 45kmh)? This will be a challenge again based on how people choose to use the tech.
So yeah, there's an abundance of trails, and room for everyone. But addressing potential issues (speculative or not) is not "hating"....it's just responsible. I don't care what people ride (within the rules) so long as they proceed responsibly.
What we really haven't seen (at any point) is any statement from manufacturers or those that market ebikes about responsible use. Every time I read an ebike fluff piece, they only want to address the pathetic arguments (...oh people think we're cheating, ....oh everyone else is so elitist, ....oh people think we're destroying the trails and we're just like dirt bikes)......basically [they] focus only on the weakest straw-man critiques without contributing ANYTHING remotely thoughtful to how to integrate this technology in a manner that is good for all riders and good for the trails. Just for once, I'd like to hear someone that sells or promotes ebikes to contribute to discussions about trail directions, technology creep, and some of the other considerations that will need to be ironed out (um, insurance anyone?). In fact, this is exactly what I see as the critical weakness of the ebike marketing campaign. Their future on the trails relies greatly on lobbying to establish and preserve access to the trails they want to ride (clearly, nobody is about to go and build a dedicated ebike trail network). But that lobbying represents a lot of work......ugh, work, you know, like pedaling is work. Ugh. All that hard work. I've read a dozen fluff pieces from people that went on about not having enough time to ride and how ebikes allow them to get out....yada yada yada......it's hard to believe THAT person will have time for advocacy and lobbying for access......Really, the industry (and their little regional reps) seem to be playing this all wrong by ignoring the issues, instead of tackling them and establishing a constructive dialogue about responsible integration. Ebikes are not "against" regular mountain bikes, but they are different in some sense...and because of that those that prefer ebikes can hardly expect that the non-motorized crowd is going to take up the fight for access on their behalf. The current mtb community is well-established and has extensive ranks of volunteers (of which only a tiny portion ride ebikes). Right now ebikes are moving forward due to lack of clear policies; access by default. That will undoubtedly change (i.e. Lord of the Squirrels now officially off limits to ebikes along with everything above the flank). I'm really curious where the hard-working and responsiblity-pushing ebike lobby will come from. Not exactly holding my breath though. It's important to consider there are those that resist ALL bikes for certain....the you-know-whos and protectors-of-toads. It's not other bikers that may be the biggest opponents to ebikes, but other influential groups, and I really can't see bikers as a whole battling against those groups to preserve ebike access.
There's no hate here. Just wondering if and when meaningful discussions will happen around the technology...as in discussions not just on the internet, including those that actually want these bikes.
