Sand Flats stewardship committee approves letter urging BLM to exclude Raptor Route from Class 1 e‑bike consideration

The Sand Flats Recreation Area Stewardship Committee voted Oct. 28 to approve a draft comment to the Bureau of Land Management’s public scoping process asking that the Raptor Route be excluded from consideration for Class 1 e‑bikes. The BLM opened scoping Oct. 1 and extended the comment period through Nov. 8; the agency plans to use comments to shape alternatives for an Environmental Assessment with a draft expected next spring and a decision possible by October of next year.

Committee members debated whether the committee should send the letter directly to the BLM or route it through the Grand County Commission for ratification; several members recommended addressing the letter to the BLM while making clear the committee’s role as an advisory body to the commission. Carrie Nelson, the BLM liaison to the committee, described the scoping scope and exclusions, noting two trails within a wilderness study area and trails that share boundaries with Forest Service lands were excluded from analysis in the current proposal.

Members focused discussion on preserving the Raptor Route as the only non‑motorized single‑track in Sand Flats. One member argued that allowing e‑bikes on that route would “take away that unique mountain biking experience from mountain bikers,” and urged that the Raptor Route be excluded from the BLM alternative that would allow Class 1 e‑bikes. The committee discussed technical and enforcement concerns, including signage defacement and on‑the‑ground management challenges. A committee member who tested a Class 1 e‑bike described it bluntly: “This is a motorized vehicle… it was like, okay. This is for real.”

After minor wordsmithing to emphasize the committee’s two strongest points — protecting the Raptor Route’s single‑track character and raising technical concerns about confusion and enforcement — Molly Taylor moved to approve the letter; Mike Kelso seconded. Matt Olding disclosed that he holds a special recreation permit from the BLM for mountain biking on the Raptor Route and abstained from the vote. The committee recorded three votes in favor and one abstention; the motion passed.

The letter, as revised, requests that the BLM exclude the Raptor Route from consideration in the agency’s evaluation of which designated non‑motorized mountain bike trails, if any, would be opened to Class 1 e‑bikes. The BLM liaison said public scoping comments will inform alternatives and that one alternative will be a no‑action alternative. The public comment period is open through Nov. 8; the BLM has indicated a draft Environmental Assessment for public comment is targeted for spring and a final decision timeline of about one year from now.

The stewardship committee characterized the letter as a comment specific to Sand Flats rather than a broader position on e‑bikes across the field office area. The special meeting concluded after the vote; the committee said it will include Matt Olding’s disclosure in the minutes and submit the approved letter to the BLM’s scoping docket and to the county as appropriate.