LANSING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Michigan’s Department of Natural Resources is looking for public comment on a change in land use. The change would allow different classes of E-bikes on state-run trails if approved.
In Michigan, current land use rules only allow class 1 E-bikes, which are pedal-assist only, with a 20 mph maximum speed, on improved surface trails. a recent proposal would allow the same E-bikes on all state-run trails, and class 2 bikes, ones that also have a throttle, by permit for those with mobility impairment in their lower extremities.
The state’s Department of Natural Resources released a survey to get public input. Nicole Hunt, Michigan’s Parks and Recreation Regulatory Unit Manager, said the feedback has been widely positive.
“I think the concerns that we’re seeing relate to safety issues and enforcement issues.” Hunt said. “the hope with changing the land use is to try to provide additional opportunities for individuals to get out and recreate.”
Everett Bateman is the owner of Bates Bikes, an E-bike rental in Marquette, he said recreators have tended to be skeptical of E-bikes, and any changes surrounding their use because of the potential danger they pose to others on the trails.
“This will impact my business anytime these regulations get lifted, more people are invited out into the trails, even when these regulations do get lifted, people are still skeptical about E-bikes when something like this happens,” Bateman said. “We want to do our due diligence and kind of look after other states or other areas that have already done this and. It seems to be working out pretty well when they lifted these types of regulations, they didn’t see any depletion in the quality of riding or the trails, they really haven’t had any extra problems.”
With the use of E-bikes becoming more common, states like Arkansas have led the way in lifting restrictions on their use.
“We’re going to continue to gather feed. back from the users of the trail, so both those who are using E-bikes as well as the other types of users, so hikers, traditional bicyclists.” Hunt said. “We are looking forward to gathering the comments on the proposal and then also really looking forward to if the director does sign the land use order. to to. to gather that feedback over this year period and make sure that it is a good fit for the recreation and the resource.”
Hunt said that if feedback stays positive, the changes could be approved by May, and if approved the department plans on conducting a year-long review period to continue to monitor feedback and make changes if necessary.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will host its next monthly meeting on April 11 at Lansing Community College, 600 North Grand Ave. in Lansing, and will be taking more public comments while reviewing survey results. The E-bike survey may be accessed directly at research.net/r/dnr-e-bike.
