The lifting of e-bike restrictions on sure trails in Banff is drawing each pleasure for brand new alternatives and concern for the way it will influence the pure splendour.
A bulletin posted by Parks Canada on Dec. 2 outlines the trails during which pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted in Banff National Park. These are outlined by the company as being succesful of being propelled with bodily energy solely and outfitted with one or more electrical motors with a complete energy output ranking of 500 W or much less.
For Clare McCann, president of the Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance, the shift is a welcome one.
“We all agree that we want more people on bikes,” she mentioned, including that e-bikes particularly can empower individuals who might not have the health required to in any other case take on the trails.
“It levels out the playing field.”
McCann mentioned when many individuals go to the park, they typically do not go more than just a few steps from their automotive. The e-bike growth might open up that have, she mentioned.
“It’s a step in the right direction to get people out of cars to see what beauty we have here.”
Access to backcountry
Concerns are additionally being raised in regards to the influence it would have on wildlife and the customer expertise.
Sarah Elmeligi, nationwide parks program co-ordinator for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society southern Alberta, mentioned her group is totally supportive of e-bikes used to get round city and on the hardened legacy path.
“It can help reduce traffic congestion. It’s a great way for people to get around. It can reduce emission — like, there’s a lot there’s a lot of benefits that come with that.”
But permitting e-bikes on trails that entry the backcountry might have adverse penalties, she mentioned.
Elmeligi mentioned the attraction for these distant areas is the shortage of different individuals, permitting guests a way of solitude and the possibility to attach with nature.
E-bikes might imply more individuals, interrupting that serenity.
Wildlife influence
It might additionally have an effect on wildlife, Elmeligi mentioned.
“These areas are also critical grizzly bear habitat, and grizzly bears don’t like a lot of people either.”
Other animals together with wolverines and birds might expertise habitat displacement — when wildlife do not need to entry sure areas as a way to keep away from individuals.
The pace of e-bikes may additionally imply animals have much less time to clear an space. Elmeligi mentioned there are already cases of mountain bikers operating into bears.
More individuals might additionally improve erosion and have an effect on vegetation, she mentioned.
“There’s a whole array of impacts and a lot of those impacts are just associated with increasing the volume of people in the backcountry.”
Elmeligi mentioned there had already been a pilot on e-bike use and he or she want to see the info justifying the Banff growth. If that information cannot be supplied, she needs to see Parks Canada rescind the order to gather information and have interaction in more public session.
“This announcement came out of nowhere — none of us knew that this was happening.”