You’ve seen the bikes along the Spur bike path, in town and on area trails. At first glance, many of them look like any other mountain bike. But they’re heavier, and their riders seem to have supernatural powers as they zip along at a brisk clip, even uphill. E-bikes are here, and to address an increase in reported interactions with other trail users, Tthe Board of County Commissioners directed the county Open Space Commission to develop a pilot program to monitor e-bike use on trails in an effort to address safety issues. Commissioners Hilary Cooper, Lance Waring, and Kris Holstrom unanimously approved the commission’s recommendations at their regular meeting Wednesday.To get more news about tektro aries, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.

According to Colorado statute, there are three classes of e-bikes: Class 1, pedal assist with maximum speed of 20 mph electric assist; Class 2, bikes that provide electric power whether or not the rider is pedaling, but stops providing power when the speed reaches 20 mph; and Class 3, bikes that continue providing electrical power up to 28 mph. The county’s new policy affects Class 1 bikes, will now be now permitted on two of the county’s 15 trails — Whiskey Charlie 62 and the M59 river trail. The county maintains over 20 miles of trails.To get more news about sr suntour sp12 ncx seatpost, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.

Even though a Class 1 e-bike is considered a pedal-assisted mountain bike, e-bikes are often treated as a motorized vehicle regardless of its speed and power,” Kask explained.To get more news about rear bike bag, you can visit magicyclebike.com official website.

County Open Space Commission member Susie St. Onge was on hand for yesterday’s meeting and said that pedal-assisted e-bikes were not far removed from mountain bikes without the assistance.

“We considered Class 1 e-bikes a mountain bike,” she said. And she added, given the rise in popularity of e-bikes and the growing prevalence of them on area trails, “this is an evolving issue. Let it evolve. Let’s see what happens.”Some older and physically challenged people have stated they prefer an e-bike, as it enables them to access trails they couldn't otherwise access without utilizing an e-bike.”

In her memo to the board, Kask recognized that there was a difference between a mountain bike with a battery and a motorbike.

“The motorbike class is fairly easy to say they shouldn’t be allowed on single track trails. However, mountain bikes are not so easy to say that. Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted bikes and aren't different in any significant way from a regular mountain bike.”

And she told the commissioners that despite the new policy with its attendant signage, “as with anything, it comes down to enforcement. I rely heavily on fellow hikers and cyclists.”Kask also stressed the importance of trail etiquette, noting that the Telluride Mountain Club has been working on the issue.

In other county open space matters, the commission, acting again at the behest of the county commissioners, crafted a new trail signage policy that will apply to the county’s trails.

In Kask’s memo to the board, she explained that the open space commission focused on simplicity.

“The open space commission’s goal … is for a minimalist approach to trailhead signage as much as possible,” she said. “The objective is to … limit the number of signs to be used and only where necessary such as trailheads and trail crossings.”