The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Commission adopted new rules governing e-bike use in state parks during its April 23 meeting, and the result will likely see Stub Stewart State Park open more trails to e-bikes.
Currently, the Banks-Vernonia State Trail is the only trail in the park that permits e-bikes.
The new rules, which also allow e-bikes to travel on most wet sand areas of the ocean shore, take effect July 1.
“The updated e-bike rules also include stronger, clearer language for safe operation and required caution, particularly around other visitors, pets, children and equestrians,” the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said in a May 1 press release.
Nearly 30 miles of trails crisscross the park north of Buxton. (Disclosure: this journalist has participated in numerous trail-clearing and trail-building projects at Stub Stewart State Park and on the Banks-Vernonia State Trail)
Most are mixed-use trails popular with hikers, equestrians, mountain bikers, and cyclists.
Under existing rules, only trails eight feet or wider, such as the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, allow e-bikes, defined as bikes with an electric motor with a power output of no more than 1,000 Watts and a top speed of 20 mph.
“It’s likely that most of the trails will allow e-bikes under the updated rules starting July 1,” Oregon Parks and Recreation spokesperson Stefanie Knowlton said in an email to the Banks Post.
‘”There will be certain trails, however, that are not a good fit for e-bikes,” Knowlton added.
Knowlton said that Stub Stewart staff would evaluate the park’s trails to see which would permit e-bikes and publish the information on the Stub Stewart website by July 1.
In public comments submitted to the commission, many equestrians voiced concern about expanding e-bike access at Stub Stewart and other state parks.
“All my life I have donated hours to make trails, clean trails and pack in equipment to make bridges, and other needed trail supplies,” said Vernonia resident Leslie Seeberger in testimony submitted March 18. “I worked endlessly on the Banks/Vernonia trail,” Seeberger wrote. “I was promised this trail would be as much for horses as hikers and bike riders. This became a myth very soon,” said Seeberger, who described herself as a 64-year-old equestrian.
Seeberger said her experience with e-bikes was frightening, describing riding a horse with e-bikes as “suicidal.”
Other comments urged the commission to allow e-bikes wherever other bikes were already permitted. Many noted that e-bikes allow older cyclists and cyclists with disabilities to ride bikes where they otherwise couldn’t.
“My class 1 bike is not any faster than any of my other bikes and it only weighs around 6 lbs more so I don’t see why they would be segregated,” wrote Josh Snyder, who listed Corvallis as their location.
“I am 71 years old and a courteous ebiker,” wrote Eugene resident Brad Stewart. “An ebike has kept me fit and brings back the joy I had when I was a child,” Stewart said in testimony expressing support for allowing e-bike use on trails where mountain bikes are already permitted.
Chas Hundley is the editor of the Banks Post and sister news publications the Gales Creek Journal and the Salmonberry Magazine. He grew up in Gales Creek and has a cat.
