Dec 12 2011

Electric Bikes on Trails

Electric Bicycles on Trails

Are electric bicycles legal on trails? It’s a good question and one that varies greatly by country, state, & trail. Before we get into the electric bikes on trails debate, let’s start w/ an overview of the:

picture of electric bikes on trails

Electric Bike on Trail

Federal Electric Bicycle Regulations (not just for trails)

  • an electrically driven bicycle is considered a bicycle
  • electric cycle must have less than 750 watt motor
  • must have functional pedals
  • maximum speed of 20 mph
  • Federal Law shall supersede State Law
 
By the way, you may also want to visit the Electric Bikes on Trails Update.

What About Electric Bikes on Trails?

But these regulations don’t really seem to address the issue of electric bikes on trails, especially since they specifically refer to operation  “on a paved level surface.” So what about a gravel trail that is not perfectly level?

And what about such vehicles as hybrid Trikkes? These are power-assisted, meet most of the requirements for power level & speed; but they don’t have pedals.

Thanks to Paul Wiegman for providing us with this American Trails link that provides Department of Justice requirements for the use of Other Power Driven Mobility Devices or OPDMD on trails. The article gives a clear definition of OPDMDs and begins to clarify the rules regarding their use on trails. It is written with trail administrators in mind and provides information regarding how those trail administrators can prepare for compliance with ADA and Department of Justice guidelines, rules and regulations.

Comments about Electric Bikes, Pedal Assisted Bikes & Pon-e Trikkes

So what has been your experience? What do you think. Should electric bikes be allowed on trails? Would you like to use an electric bicycle, Trikke, recumbent, or scooter on some or all trails? Please leave a comment (no email por favor) below.

 

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Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/12/electric-bikes-on-trails/

Dec 10 2011

Winter Snowshoe Trails

Trails are to Boulder, Colorado what beaches are to Honolulu, Hawaii. Ubiquitous, popular, and greatly enjoyed. But there is one major difference that can be summarized in one word: winter.

Snowshoers pose for picture.

Snowshoers near Brainard Lake, Colorado

In Hawaii, winter means a couple degrees cooler with water temperatures that are a bit less comfortable but still inviting. But in Colorado, winter means sub-freezing temperatures and periods of snow. So does that mean that people stop enjoying the trails?

You know the answer to that! Of course they don’t; they just enjoy them in a different way. The two most obvious ways include snowshoeing and nordic (cross-country) skiing. In fact, many mountain-dwellers look forward to the cold and snow as a way to add variety to their favorite trails. Nothing says tranquility like a snow-softened landscape.

Another benefit of the winter season is reduced trail traffic. Yes people still use the trails, but not nearly as often. So even the popular pathways like the Brainard Lake Trail offer a much greater degree of solitude than the same trail in the summer months. Even on the busiest days, there are spaces available at the trailhead and stretches of solitude on the trail.

I’d love to hear your opinions and experiences with winter trails. Love them? Hate them? Prefer Munro Trail on Lanai, Hawaii to Kootenai River Trail in Libby, Montana? Leave a comment at the beep.

BEEP!!

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/10/winter-snowshoe-trails/

Dec 04 2011

Mickelson Trail Trek Tour 2012

Enjoy an epic bicycle tour in the shadow of Mount Rushmore as you journey through tunnels and over bridges situated along the historic Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills of South Dakota. 

trail tunnel on the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota

trail tunnel on the Mickelson Trail in South Dakota (photo courtesy of Heather Enos)

View South Dakota’s Black Hills from a completely new perspective as you enjoy this three day bike tour along the 109 mile Mickelson Bike Trail. We will ride the trail in three different segments with a shuttle provided so you will only be riding each trail segment one-way.  This is by far our smallest group tour with only five participants.

To view the complete details of the Mickelson Trail Trek Tour, visit this OnTheMoveTours page.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/12/04/mickelson-trail-trek-tour-2012/

Nov 29 2011

Trailsnet is Now on WordPress

It finally happened!! Your favorite source of information about trails is now in its new home on Word Press. You may not notice much difference, but believe me, the differences are huge. And we’re just beginning… you will start to see big changes over the next couple months:

a circle of computers

Join our network of trail lovers.

Trail Guides

You may notice that the link to locate trails by state is no longer available, but that is only temporary. I am in the process of completely reformatting the over 100 pages with trail information. When I have completed that process, you will be able to find your favorite trail again, on trailsnet.

Trail Polls, Trail Blogrolls, & Other Sidebar Information

As you can see, we now have only one sidebar and it isn’t very populated yet. We may stick with the one sidebar format, but we will also begin adding more trail-related content and interactive trail tools.

Trailsnet Subscription

One blog characteristic that has changed minimally is your ability to subscribe to the trailsnet blog and receive notification of upcoming blog posts. Just like before, if you are a subscriber, you will be notified of new trail-related blog-posts. Except now, your subscription will be through WordPress rather than Google Blogger. You will find it to be a much more streamlined and user-friendly process. So if you were a subscriber to the old trailsnet on Blogger/Blogspot, please take a few seconds to fill out the subscription form in the right-hand column. And if you weren’t a previous subscriber, now is your chance. It’s quick, easy, and painless. And I promise, your email won’t be shared with anyone else, you won’t get more than 3 or 4 notifications per week, and it’s super easy and quick to unsubscribe.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/11/29/trailsnet-is-now-on-wordpress/

Nov 07 2011

Trailsnet named in Top 100 Camping Blogs

Backpack Challenge
Trailsnet nominated for top 100 Camping Blogs

Trailsnet has been nominated once again for a blog award. This time, we have been chosen as one of the top 100 Camping Blogs and are eligible to win the #1 Camping Blog award.


This is an especially big honor for us since our main focus is on trails and camping is just one portion of our blog content. So a big thank you goes out to JustBackPacksOnline for nominating us for this award. We know the competition is stiff, but we also know that trailsnet is an awesome outdoor website/blog.



Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/11/07/trailsnet-named-in-top-100-camping-blogs/

Oct 18 2011

Big switch coming up

I would like to send a big thank you for those of you who are signed on to follow the trailsnet blog. I appreciate your support & following.

Like the good trail leaders that we are, we’ll try to keep
you on track as we make the big switcheroo. Thanks for
your patience and persistence.

I will soon be switching the trailsnet blogspot blog over to WordPress. I’m not quite sure whether your RSS Feed (followship) will be switched over with the big swap. If I had to make a guess, I would say not. In fact, I’m worried that quite a few things will have to change, whether I like it or not.
But the change is a necessary one to keep (start) the blog and website running more smoothly since my website host works with WordPress but not Google (Blogspot/Blogger).
The favor I would like to ask of you is to continue following trailsnet, even if it means signing on w/ the WordPress feed. I want to keep the loyal trailsnet followers as we move into this new era at trailsnet.
There will be more information forthcoming. In fact, I’ve already written a WordPress blog entry explaining the 3-step process of transforming trailsnet.com.
As always, your comments about this issue are welcomed below.

Permanent link to this article: https://trailsnet.com/2011/10/18/big-switch-coming-up/