E-bike advocates spoke and the Regional District of North Okanagan board has listened.
A advice put ahead by the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee to the RDNO board designating Class 1 and Class 2 (throttle help) e-bikes as a permitted use on the Okanagan Rail Trail was accredited by the regional district board of administrators Wednesday night (June 14).
“This is fantastic,” stated Sheila Fraser, an electrical bike advocate who alongside along with her husband Ron Fraser owns Pedego Oyama Electric Bikes.
“This is the right decision for an active transportation corridor like the (Okanagan Rail Trail) that connects communities together.”
The concern arose this spring when new signage on the part of the Okanagan Rail Trail between Coldstream and Lake Country suggested customers of a bylaw limiting path entry to Class 1 electrical bikes.
That excluded entry for a lot of riders with mobility challenges, or who merely stay in hilly terrain or have nice distances to journey, and depend on a Class 2 e-bike with a throttle for an additional increase of help.
Backed by a web based petition opposing the Class 2 e-bike ban with 4,200 signatures, Fraser led a delegation showing earlier than the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee on June 1, searching for to amend the bylaw, which the committee agreed to suggest to the RDNO board for remaining approval.
“We’ve heard from a lot of passionate bike riders over the past several weeks and we’ve learned that we could all use a little more education and etiquette when we’re out on our bikes – whether they are electric or regular,” Fraser stated in a information launch.
That was in response to public feedback by pedestrian path walkers complaining about close-calls with cyclists who imagine the throttle-powered e-bikes belong on the roads.
“So, we are taking this valuable lesson to heart and doing something about it,” she added.
On Saturday, June 18, Pedego Oyama will launch an intro occasion referred to as ‘The EEEs of Cycling – Education, Etiquette and E-bikes!’
This one-hour (10:15-11:15 a.m.) session is open for all cyclists who’re new to e-biking or getting again into biking and wish to study extra about e-bikes, fundamental upkeep and guidelines of the highway.
The seminar takes place at Pedego Oyama, positioned at 15686 Pelmewash Parkway, subsequent to Gatzke’s Farm Market.
The first session is already booked up, however Fraser says if the demand is there, extra periods can be provided.
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