The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is considering new regulations that will allow everyone to use pedal-assist electric bicycles on state bike trails, increasing accessibility and enjoyment of Maryland’s public lands. For years, all electric bikes have been treated the same as motorized vehicles in parks and public lands, prohibited from traveling on trails and restricted to roads and parking lots. Meanwhile, sales for electric bikes have increased, quadrupling between 2019 and 2022, per the U.S. Department of Energy. In response to this demand, the department has drafted a regulation that will allow pedal-assist e-bikes (Class 1 and Class 3 only) on state trails where bikes are already allowed. Exceptions will be made for trails that were designed for specific user groups, such as pedestrians, for infrastructure concerns, for safety concerns and for habitat protection, at the department’s discretion. “This e-bike policy will help even more people enjoy Maryland’s multi-use trails,” said Sandi Olek, director of the Maryland Office of Outdoor Recreation. These regulations will provide clarity to e-bike users and lay a foundation for a burgeoning electric cyclist community in the state. Class 1 and Class 3 bikes are pedal-assist e-bikes. The electric assist function will not activate unless […]
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