BLM to consider e-bike allowance on some Moab mountain biking trails
Oct 8, 2024, 12:50 PM | Updated: Jun 30, 2025, 8:14 pm
FILE — A mountain biker rides over part of the Slickrock Trial outside of Moab, Utah with the La Salle Mountain Range in the background. (Tom Smart/Deseret News)
(Tom Smart/Deseret News)
MOAB, Utah – On Oct. 1, the Bureau of Land Management opened a public scoping period to explore the allowance of e-bikes on some Moab mountain biking trails.
A BLM press release said the Moab Field Office oversees over 190 miles of non-motorized mountain biking trails. The scoping period will help the office determine if any, and which, mountain bike trails e-bikes should be allowed on.
According to Anna Rehkopf, the public affairs specialist for the BLM Canyon County District, the period is an early stage of a process established by the National Environmental Policy Act.
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) seeks input from the public and other stakeholders to identify potential issues, concerns, and areas of interest related to a proposed project,” wrote Rehkopf in an e-mail to KSL NewsRadio.
During the public scoping period, the BLM Moab Field Office will collect written comments. Their goal is to understand topics that should be considered during a future environmental assessment.
The 30-day scope will last until Nov. 1, 2024. Rehkopf said that comments can be submitted through the BLM e-Planning website.
“The information gathered during the public scoping period will help the BLM identify relevant issues, impacts, and alternatives for consideration in the environmental assessment,” wrote Rehkopf. “It also ensures that the perspectives of diverse user groups and stakeholders are incorporated into the analysis.”
What e-bikes could be allowed?
A press release from the BLM said that the scope is targeting the impacts that Class 1 e-bikes might have on select Moab mountain biking trails. A list of trails under consideration can be found on the BLM website.
According to the e-bike brand Pedego, a Class 1 e-bike requires its user to pedal to use the motor. In contrast, Class 2 and 3 e-bikes do not require pedaling to engage the motor.
Currently, e-bikes are considered motorized vehicles. No e-bike is allowed on any non-motorized Moab mountain biking trails, per the BLM website.
In contrast, e-bikes are permitted on trails where motorized vehicles are.
Potential impacts to Moab mountain biking trails
According to Rehkopf, e-bike usage on non-motorized trails could have varying impacts on trail conditions and user interactions.
Following the scoping period, the BLM will review and consider each comment they receive. Then, they will work to draft an environmental assessment document. It will be made public for review and comment.
“[The environmental assessment] is followed by additional analysis and decision-making steps, where the BLM will evaluate all the information before determining whether to authorize e-bike use on certain non-motorized trails,” wrote Rehkopf. “Public engagement will continue throughout the process, ensuring transparency and opportunities for feedback.”
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