yellowdogx says: "Mountain bikers have had to work hard to gain any footing with hikers, land owners, etc." True. But I find it hard to buy this anymore. Mountainbiking is solidly established and the authorities are too deep into it to do anything but help make it all work across all of the user groups.
and also: "Every trail is now a shuttle trail. How many laps could the average rider pull off slowly pedaling the way up mountain hiway vs. a twist of the throttle? Trails like Fromme so close to a major metropoitan area like Vancouver are going to take shit kicking if the majority of riders are someday on e-bikes." Again, True. Throttles would accellerate this, but generally this doesn't ring true to me anymore either. The growing number of regular mountain bikers blows shuttling and ebikes out of the water.
Tashi's point is bang on: "Trails and management have had to adapt, 20 years ago I never would have thought my dirtbag sport would be as organized, legimitized and managed as it is now. I wouldn't be too surprised if busy areas end up with a mix of e-moto friendly and mtb only trails."
The cat's out of the bag. The industry is pushing/developing ebikes and who knows what it will all come to. But it started a long time before this 'latest' development . . . right at the very beginning. The first mountain biker couldn't wait to tell his buddies and get them out there. The entire mountain bike industry (and a large chunk of the ridership) has inherently and overtly focused on "growing the sport." More trails, but more importantly, More riders able to ride More terrain. Let's look in the mirror. We are consuming the trails. Increasing our fitness, buying a new bike, improving our skills, getting friends into the sport, driving to hell and back to find new trailheads, buying guidebooks, and on, and on, and on - this is what will wipe our beloved trails off the mountainside. Tashi's right. Trails are changing, how they are managed is changing, the place of our sport in the bigger picture continues to change, the economics are evolving, the tools are morphing, and the busy areas will continue to need everyone's close attention. There will be new trails and older trails will no doubt change. User groups may also change. Think about networks of handicapped double track designed to be as fun/challenging as any of our singletrack. Maybe ebike trails (I hope not, and I doubt it).
The point is not to be happy and let it all go to hell. The point is to work rationally to make it all work as best as possible, and not to let emotion rule. I really don't want ebikes on our trails. But I also know, in spite of any efforts I might make, I might lose this one. Maybe when I am 70 I will have even changed my mind (though I doubt it).
I just read Mic's post. Agree or disagree, its a bit of reason/thought that presents some points to think about. He even pushed the emotion driven fear mongering (the old hiker vs mtb'er debate) to the wayside. And he's right: we have to deal with ebikes; we can reject them or work them in, but biting a fishing hook set by norona is to be distracted. As for the points made by grumpy builder: you are the representative of common sense mountain bikers, not guys like norona. Sooth your fear. If hundreds of norona-posts become the norm, then you can worry (maybe). But, look into the mirror: you are not so different if you would like to expand our territory into BCParks. Like I said, if we all get in there it will be us destroying the trails. Ebikes might need limits, but mountainbikers need them too.