So why the question mark? Because, the legislature really did not ban them because they don’t understand the technology. We will get to that shortly.
First off, I was planning a trip with four other E-bikers to the Mickelson in May. We were going to rent a monster VRBO, eat out and entertain ourselves, spend lots of tourist money and ride the trail. Trip cancelled. We instead are probably going to Duluth and ride the trails around Lake Superior while spending our tourist dollars in another state. It will be epic.
The AARP was against this because seniors are the biggest users of Class II E-bikes, tons of studies have shown this. It has also improved the health of many seniors.
This bill was written by a whack-a-doodle who is anti-green energy and of course anything electric, go figure.
The irony is that they will still allow 200 HP, LOUD, 40 MPH, GASOLINE powered snowmobiles. Hmm? The other irony is that electric powered snowmobiles and ATV’s are becoming extremely popular with hunters and naturalists because the animals are not alerted by the exhaust smell and noise. E-powered vehicles are virtually silent not interrupting the quaint sounds of nature.
But what puzzled me the most is the lack of knowledge the legislature has on micro-mobility (E-Bikes, etc.) This isn’t rocket science and you can literally watch a 10 minute YT video explaining the different technologies that change everyday. They are allowing Class I which is no different then Class II or III except for speed and a throttle. But the best part is they haven’t banned E-Bikes entirely, they actually opened the trail up for E-Motorcycles which can go anywhere between 40-80 MPH;
Electric bicycle defined–Classes.
For purposes of this chapter, the term, electric bicycle, means a bicycle or a tricycle that is equipped with a seat or saddle, with operable pedals for propulsion, and with an electric motor of seven hundred fifty watts or less.
An electric bicycle is a Class I electric bicycle if the motor provides assistance only when the person is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of twenty miles per hour is achieved.
An electric bicycle is a Class II electric bicycle if the motor is capable of propelling the bicycle without the person pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of twenty miles per hour is achieved.
An electric bicycle is a Class III electric bicycle if the motor provides assistance only when the person is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of twenty-eight miles per hour is achieved.
In other words if your E-bike can achieve over 29 MPH it is considered an ‘out of class’ e-bike and is NOT defined in state law. Once again the dopes in Pierre passed a law that has zero teeth, but I won’t bother testing it, because I will be in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
I’ll bet that the FAB Peddle Police are behind this. I didn’t realize that they had a lobbyist in Pierre.
Just follow the plan that Sioux Falls used.
Ban Class 2 Bikes from the Rec trail.
After 2 years of every bicycle shop in the Midwest selling Class 2 bikes to boomers and giving the imaginary finger to FAB and the City council and enforcing absolutely nothing, they realized the same thing at the same time.
We cannot stop Class 2 bikes on the trail.
Just like the state of South Dakota couldn’t stop people from driving 80 on the interstate, they just gave up and now you can drive 80.
Exactly what happened with Class2
Bikes on the trail.
So, just ride your Class 2’s on the Mickleson Trail.
You can ride with impunity just like they did in Sioux Falls.
The FAB moto is:
Rules, Rule, for me.
None, none, none for thee.
Good luck enforcing this one.
You just cut the bicycle tourism in half.
It’s a fade!
If e-bikes, then why not Mopeds?
Instead of class II, what most seniors need is Ozempic and a one-speed cruiser
Are motorcycles allowed on the Mickelson Trail? “e” or not?
My guess is that conservatives in Pierre don’t like the “e” in e-bike, but regardless, e-bikes are the predators of
the trails. While on the road they are the prey.
You never pass an e-bike (unless you are on another e-bike).
Does it snow anymore? No need to worry about snowmobiles on a lonely winter trail.
But like that great chorus from the musical ‘From Here to E-ternity’ said….:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/1-oo2XXE3n0
Yeah they pretty much killed senior tourism, the irony is if any of the clowns in the legislature did their research they would realize the bike rental shops by the trail are unplugging the throttles on E-II’d, essentially turning them into E-I’s and getting around the regulations
Is all tourism good? Then maybe we should reopen the Purple Door in Deadwood, huh?