A trial interval got here to an finish this week; outcomes to be analyzed
Mike Phillips with Mountain Bike Specialists exhibits an electrical mountain bike which will quickly be allowed on soft-surface trails in Durango after a yearlong trial on the Twin Buttes trails. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
As the recognition of pedal-assisted electrical bikes rises, town of Durango is the way it can change its guidelines to accommodate each conventional and electrical cyclists.
After a trial interval just a few years in the past, town made the choice to allow e-bikes on hard-surface trails just like the Animas River Trail, which is paved.
During the previous yr and a half, town has held one other e-bike trial interval on the Twin Buttes mountain biking trails to gauge whether or not it will allow e-bikes on soft-surface trails, or non-paved trails. The trial interval ended Tuesday.
“They’re getting input right now, and we’re going to be giving the data over to a professor at Fort Lewis College who’s going to do a study and report on it,” mentioned Parks and Recreation Director Ture Nycum.
Both commuter-style electrical bikes and electrical mountain bikes make up a big portion of gross sales at Mountain Bike Specialists in Durango. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Nycum mentioned he’s heard from group members who need e-bikes on soft-surface trails, and others who’ve considerations.
“There’s always two sides to the story, and we’re still looking at it, to be honest,” Nycum mentioned. “It’s a challenge in that some people would love to see e-bikes out there, and some people are not quite sure.”
Durango Trails board president Christina Rinderle mentioned among the considerations she’s heard from different riders about letting e-bikes on the paths are about security and velocity.
“I think most concerns people have are with safety, and those concerns can be addressed in general with trail etiquette,” she mentioned. “I really don’t think it’s the e-bike that’s the issue.”
Rinderle mentioned many who’re shopping for e-bikes are older individuals who can’t get round like they used to.
“When you look at the demographic of the e-bike user, I think they should be allowed, and I’m glad that the city did the trial at Twin Buttes,” she mentioned. “I haven’t heard of any conflicts with e-bike users.”
Many riders in Durango use a mixture of hard- and soft-surface trails when commuting on bikes, Rinderle mentioned.
“Allowing e-bikes would really expand that opportunity for more people to commute on their bikes,” she mentioned.
E-bikes have gained worldwide acclaim, and Durango is not any exception.
“E-bikes are a very large percentage of our sales,” mentioned Mountain Bike Specialists Manager John Glover. “They are very popular.”
Glover mentioned that consciousness of what e-bikes are and the way they can be utilized has sparked a rising acceptance in the biking group.
“Whether it’s a person with physical limitations being able to get out on soft-surface trails, or a person who can park their car and make a more healthy commute, the different aspects of what e-bikes can provide is gaining more recognition,” he mentioned. “E-bikes have really been an empowering thing for people who have some limitations.”
Mountain Bike Specialists salesman Mike Phillips exhibits off the fleet of electrical mountain bikes on the market on the Durango retailer. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
Glover mentioned 2021 was the primary yr that the greenback worth of importing e-bikes surpassed the worth of importing conventional bicycles.
“When you’re looking at value, they do cost more, but the market for importing bicycles is huge,” Glover mentioned.
Speaking to the price of buying an e-bike, Glover mentioned costs have come down some. However, costs for high-end e-bikes have gone up.
About half of the bicycles in the gross sales space at Mountain Bike Specialists are electrical bikes. (Jerry McBride/Durango Herald)
There are three courses of e-bike: Class 1 and Class 3 e-bikes are the most typical, and sure what clients discover at a motorcycle store. Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted as much as 20 mph, and Class 3 bikes are pedal-assisted as much as 28 mph. Class 2 bikes have a throttle, and don’t require pedaling.
“The reason bike shops focus on Class 1 and Class 3 is because they’re pedal-assisted, which means you have to pedal or they will not move,” Glover mentioned.
Most land managers will allow solely Class 1 e-bikes on soft-surface trails, he mentioned.
njohnson@durangoherald.com