Wildlife officials have gotten hundreds of responses to a survey specializing in use of e-bikes on pure floor trails.
ISSAQUAH, Wash. — The use of electrical bikes is surging, a lot in order that state lawmakers and wildlife officials are finding out their impacts on trails and the place they need to be allowed.
Most days, you may discover Mathew Rzucidlo hitting the paths at Duthie Park, and now it’s not simply fellow mountain bikers he’s sharing the path with.
“The problem with e-bikes is you see people ripping around trails and it’s basically a motorbike at that point and they need to ride somewhere else, but as long as people are courteous and they share the bike park I have no problem with e-bikes at all,” mentioned Rzucidlo.
People like Rzucidlo are precisely who the Washington Department Fish and Wildlife and DNR needed to listen to from as a part of a survey taking a look at using e-bikes on pure floor trails.
“We’ve already had like 7,000 respondents to that survey, and our public meetings, we had at least 120 people at each of those,” mentioned Heide Anderson, recreation planner for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Legislation handed final yr in Olympia additionally directs wildlife officials to get enter from a number of teams, together with tribal leaders and the disabled group.
“E-bikes really provide a way for a lot of people to access trails and public lands that might not otherwise be able to,” mentioned Anderson.
There are issues about extra use on public lands relating to wildlife, soil, and water assets.
“Our biggest mission is to protect the wildlife resources out there and so trying to balance now the two is very important to us,” mentioned Anderson.
The survey wrapped up Friday, and now wildlife officials have till the tip of September to get a report back to lawmakers.
“We want to think about where are the best places to use them,” mentioned state Sen. Marko Liias, the chair of the senate’s Transportation Committee.
The subsequent step is coverage. Officials hope the study will give clear guidelines and rules on when and the place e-bikes can be utilized.
“We don’t want to have folks come too fast on trails where that’s not safe we want to make sure they have the right kind of bike for the right kind of trail. That’s part of what the department’s doing is just thinking through those details.,” mentioned Sen. Liias
The fundamental objective is to get extra of us outdoors.
“Ultimately, we want people to be there enjoying it, and using these facilities using our state lands to enjoy the outdoors, especially right now when it’s so beautiful,” mentioned Sen. Liias.