Electric Bikes: On Arlington’s Trails But Outside the Law?
Electric bikes are making more frequent appearances in Arlington these days. But the law hasn’t kept up with demand.
Electric bikes can be the perfect solution for the transportation needs of some people. They offer the convenience of a bike, but the power-assist can accommodate a much wider range of abilities. So electric bikes should fit right in with Arlington’s mission to get more people out of cars and on to bikes, right?
Well... It’s a little tricky at the moment.
Electric bikes in the streets? Arlington’s cool with that. But it looks like electric bikes may not actually be permitted on Arlington’s trails. As recently raised on the Donaldson Run blog, the signs posted at many of the entrances to Arlington’s trails bar “power driven mobility devices.” And yes, that appears to mean electric bikes.
The Arlington County Code, Chapter 14.2 - 64.1 (B) states:
The use of [trails] by persons operating vehicles other than bicycles is prohibited and violations of this section shall be a misdemeanor.
This, of course, is eminently sensible on its face, even if not immediately so to the occasional clueless car driver you find on the trail near Bluemont Junction. But how does this ban electric bikes? Well, the code immediately goes on to state:
“Vehicle” used herein means any motorized vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, electrical motor, or other electrical device.
It’s this provision that’s been read by some Arlington County staff to mean that electric bikes aren’t technically permitted on Arlington’s trails. This was recently confirmed by Arlington County staff in an email, and lines up with the conversations I’ve had with staff in recent years.
To be clear, no one to my knowledge has been cited for using an electric bike on Arlington’s trails, and I would be shocked to ever see a ticket written. That said, more electric bikes are coming, and it’s probably time to update the law.
Any update, in my view, should accomodate the growing interest in and utility of electric bikes. It should also be mindful of the fact that electric bikes do, in fact, bring some possible negatives to the trails.
First, some can be extraordinarily heavy, and if that’s combined with excessive power-assisted speed, the consequences on the trail could be greater than we’re willing to accept. Some jurisdictions have attempted to address these issues by limiting acceptable electric bikes to a given wattage or top speed.
I’m confident Arlington could adopt reasonable limits on the capabilities of electric bikes that owners can use on the trails. Electric bikes don’t need to be outside of the law when on our trails. Let’s fix it.
Mark Blacknell is chairman of the Arlington Bicycle Advisory Committee, president of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and a League Cycling Instructor.
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There’s a big bike event in Crystal City this Saturday – the Diamond Derby. Part parade, part race, and a whole lot of party. Admission free. More information at the link.
H. Paul Moon
2:31 pm on Wednesday, March 7, 2012
The concerns about the impact of electric-assisted bicycles on trails are unfounded. There are very, very few models available in a market largely terrorized by cycling purists who think that bikes are for sport or exercise (instead of just getting around efficiently -- let alone environmentally green). Of those available models, none of them make noise, add much weight, or go very fast. They're basically identical to a regular bicycle (requiring pedaling too), but just with a little kick.
As a rider myself, the question of law seems largely inconsequential. You can't tell that an electric bicycle is electric just in passing, and even so, there are very few pricks in the world (I assume) who would rat out one just for riding in the flow of trail traffic.
Mark Blacknell
8:13 am on Thursday, March 8, 2012
"a market largely terrorized by cycling purists who think that bikes are for sport or exercise"
What do you mean by that?
FWIW, the electric bike I borrowed to take a spin around here must have tipped the scales at at *least* 65 lbs. (compare heavy hybrids at 32lb or so). Definitely affected handling.
Change Agent
1:41 pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012
While I agree that the banning of electric-motor assisted bikes from the trails should be re-examined, allowing certain models could become a slippery slope. Perhaps they should be allowed only with a special permit, so that permit could be revoked if the privilege is abused.
Don
7:27 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
Add the words 'obnoxious jerk' before 'bicycle purists'.
Mark Blacknell
10:31 am on Friday, March 9, 2012
@Change Agent - I think I'm in favor of a wattage/top speed cutoff, and probably leaving it at that. Permitting when it comes to bikes makes me a bit itchy, as 1) it's ripe for abuse on the issuing side, and 2) it would probably end up being yet another unenforced enforcement possibility.
It seems that the DC BAC just took a look at some of these issues at their last meeting, and there's some split as to whether e-bikes are simply "personal mobility devices" (and thus allowed) or motorized vehicles (not allowed). I hope that, however it gets resolved in Arlington and DC, we don't create any big jurisdictional differences.
ebiker
11:15 pm on Thursday, May 3, 2012
I'll been a rider of a pedal-assist ebike for the past two years. I ride it everyday either before going to work, to work, or after work. It gets me out of the car and causes an awareness to others that might not ride a regular pedal bike because of a loss of a limb or knee replacement etc. What does it matter if the bike is "e" assist or not...people need to obey the speed limit. Lets not stop a movement to go green by getting a group of gov't Bcrates involved that now stops the process. I won't ride a regular bike to work but I love my ebike.