State parks, forests weigh allowing e-bikes on roads and selected trails, propose 20 mph limit

The Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation presented a draft policy to the House Transportation Committee on Feb. 25 that would allow Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes on paved or gravel forest highways, park roads and designated multi‑use trails, while limiting natural‑surface mountain‑bike trails to Class 1 only. Claire Pulpis, recreation program manager for the department and chair of the state‑lands e‑bike working group, told the committee the draft also proposes a 20 miles‑per‑hour speed limit with lower limits possible in high‑use zones and permits for short‑term closures ("We proposed a speed limit of 20 miles per hour and then lower if needed").

Pulpis said state law was changed to classify many e‑bikes as bicycles rather than motor vehicles and that land managers were given discretion over uses of multi‑use and natural‑surface trails. FPR formed a cross‑agency working group in 2023–24 to research e‑bike impacts and draft policy updates; the…