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The East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors voted earlier this month to allow electric bikes on the Iron Horse Regional Trail and two other district trails as part of a one-year pilot program.
The program, which runs through July 2018, is being implemented on the Iron Horse Trail running between Pleasanton and Concord through the San Ramon Valley, the Alameda Creek Trail from Niles Canyon to the San Francisco Bay and the Contra Costa Canal Regional Trail, a horseshoe-shaped trail in central Contra Costa County.
The one-year pilot covers only Class 1 and 2 electric bikes, which include brakes with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, according to EBRPD spokesman Dave Mason.
All existing regional trail rules, including the current 15 mph speed limit, will remain in effect during the pilot program.
As part of the program, park officials will conduct outreach on affected trails, monitoring usage and gathering feedback about patrons’ experiences.
In a statement, park officials said electric bikes help reduce traffic congestion and improve access for those with physical limitations.
For more information about the program or the park district, visit the agency’s website.
A good move that should encourage more people out of their cars, to enjoy our great scenery. One nice thing about ebikes is the availability of on-tap power, so users could really slow down when passing people, then speed up afterwards, with minimal effort. 750W is pretty powerful so, let’s hope it gets used responsibly 🙂