NORC (national outdoor recreation conference)

Pedal-assist electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) are helping more people to experience the outdoors- by lowering the barrier to entry and making the activity of mountain biking more accessible and enjoyable to users with different levels of experience, skill, and physical ability.

In this session, participants will gain an understanding of the current state of eMTB use and the latest research on their environmental and social impact on trails. Through research and case studies, participants will learn how land managers are planning for and managing eMTB use on federal, state, and local trails. Using the case study of Tahoe National Forest, hear from leaders from the U.S. Forest Service to learn how they introduced Class 1 eMTBs on natural surface trails, their plans for the future, and how eMTBs have been integrated into their recreational management plans.

To round out the discussion, leaders from PeopleForBikes will share the latest research and additional case studies on eMTB use on natural surface trails across the nation. This session will explore how land managers and recreational professionals can utilize these examples and apply the lessons to their own backyards. 

1. The state of the current research on the impacts of electric mountain bikes on the trails and how they interact with other trail users.
2. How pedal-assist electric mountain bikes are getting more people in the outdoors, by lowering the barrier to entry and making the activity of recreational biking and mountain biking more accessible and enjoyable to users with different levels of experience, skill and physical ability.
3. Case study and learnings from the Tahoe National Forest, including their recent NEPA Environmental Assessments, on how they decided to move forward with allowing Class 1 electric mountain bikes on portions of their trails in their district.
4. Outlining how land managers have evaluated and developed programs to allow electric mountain bikes on public lands