Montana Woods N Water July 2016 Print Edition | Page 25

OUTDOOR TOYS CONTINUED
Now for the big elephant in the room! Are these bikes considered motorized vehicles, or bicycles? Can they go behind locked gates, on
trails, and anywhere any normal bike can go? Are they allowed in areas designated NO motorized vehicles?
I talked to several people from the United States Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) this is their designation. “Ebikes have a motor and are therefore self-propelled and are not covered by the exceptions in the definition. Therefore, e-bikes are motor
vehicles and are subject to regulation…” In the briefing paper I received from the USFS it also sights the International Mountain Bicycling
Association which says “…the use of a motor whether internal combustion or electric would require changing the classification to a
motorized use.” They do however say about the future management of E-Bikes: “E-bikes should be continued to be managed as motor
vehicles under the TRM (travel management rule) and reflected on the units MVUM (motor vehicle use maps). Opportunities exist under
the regulations of the current TMR using designations on the Forest MVUM, these consist of: Roads open to all vehicles, trails open to all
vehicles, trails open to vehicles 50” or less, motorcycles only, special designation*.” The “*…special designation on NFS (national forest
service) trails may be considered at the local level when MVUM’s are updated in accordance with the TMR.” The BLM was pretty short and
sweet but similar: “ …(BLM) classifies e-bikes as motorized vehicles…” and “ The BLM manages e-bikes similar to the U.S. Forest Service
(FS). The FS manages e-bikes as a motor vehicle per their Travel Management Rule.” So eBikes are not to be used behind locked gates, in
wilderness areas, and/or anywhere where the designation is NO motorized vehicles.
If you live on or close to the Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribal Reservation, the rules are a little
different. When I called CSKT theDarby’s
answer Ifish!
got was:
There are no rules about them on tribal land and
they should be ok to use anywhere motorized and
non-motorized units can be used…they are
essentially considered a bicycle. Bear in mind if you
are not a tribal member you will need your tribal
land use permit. The only thing I would caution on
for this is since there is no actual rule or any current
rule about motorized and non-motorized could be
interpreted in any way…for or against.

This is an awesome innovation and it just keeps getting better. If you like to ride bicycles
you will love riding an eBike. It can make your commute to work easier and faster, your
ride in the mountains less strenuous, and it might give you the ability to go farther than you
could before. If you haven’t tried one yet stop by Ronan Power Products (Ronan), or
Montana Power Products (Libby) and take one for a spin. You won’t be disappointed.

Checkout a new website that promotes tourism,
business, recreation and some beautiful pictures by
local NW Montana photographers!

www.kootenaicountrymontana.com
They are also on Facebook under Kootenai Country Magazine
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