E-bikes are rolling into national parks, but their welcome is far from unanimous as the National Park Service allows each park to decide their fate.
Anna Phillips reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- The National Park Service has decided to let individual park superintendents choose whether to allow e-bikes, leading to varied rules across the country.
- Environmentalists fear e-bikes could disrupt wildlife and quiet backcountry areas, while advocates argue they make parks more accessible.
- The debate over e-bikes echoes past controversies around mountain bikes, with both sides anticipating more battles as e-bike popularity grows.
Key quote:
“What we’re concerned about is safety and conflicts and changing the backcountry.”
— Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Parks Conservation Association
Why this matters:
E-bikes offer a lower-impact way to explore our parks, potentially reducing the number of car trips within these protected areas. However, e-bikes may revolutionize park access but could also pose risks to sensitive environments and safety, making this a key issue in balancing conservation with accessibility. Read more: Another road is possible.
