Why We Shouldn't Hate on E-Bikes

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Last week, Moab banned electric bikes from many of the area's most popular trails. And that's the right decision (for now). What's more alarming is the vitriolic reaction to the machines and their riders, making the cycling community sound a lot like the road's worst drivers. 

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The Bureau of Land Management in Moab, Utah, updated its website last week with guidelines that exclude “motor-assisted bicycles” from many of the most popular trails around town. The update wasn’t really news. It is simply an articulation of standing policy that e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles and, as such, are banned from all trails designated for non-motorized use.
But the BLM’s decision to overhaul the website—and MTBR’s decision to report on it—reflects the growing confusion and unease over e-mountain bikes.

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