If you do any riding in Park City you’ll notice it pretty quickly; there are few to no e-bikes on the singletrack. While the locals will boast about their, “400 plus miles,” of local trails, you’re unlikely to see them riding an e-bike. A surprising fact for a place that is seriously bike-friendly.
Unlike other places where e-bikes are becoming the norm, Park City’s trail network remains mostly closed to e-MTBs. There are a couple exceptions, but for most people, the rules are simple: leave your e-bike (no matter what class) at home.
It’s about more than the bike
The restriction isn’t because the locals are against e-bikes. They just don’t really want them on their trails. Class 1 e-bikes can be used on the many paved pathways throughout the city. .
The biggest exception to this entire rule, is a unique one. It’s Park City’s Courtesy Tag Program. This allows riders 65 and older or those with mobility disabilities to use Class 1 e-bikes on singletrack after registering with the city.
According to Lora Anthony, executive director of the Mountain Trails Foundation, the decision reflects what local trail users have consistently asked for.
“As to the ‘why’ e-MTB’s are restricted, I’d just say that the singletrack restriction for eMTB’s is the community’s preference at this point,” she says.
Hikers have spoken
Park City’s trail system isn’t just for mountain bikers. Hikers, runners and dog walkers share the same trails. Anthony says repeated community surveys have produced the same result.
“On Park City’s trails, there are more hikers than mountain bikers and they’ve spoken up in survey after survey. They don’t want another trail user group, which is expected to be very large and growing, added to the trails.”
That doesn’t necessarily mean opinions won’t change someday. But today, the community has made its preference clear.
Speed and safety remain concerns
Anthony says uphill speed is another concern.
“Further, uphill speed of eMTB’s is a perceived problem for both pedestrian trail users and analog mountain bikers.”
There’s also the issue of rider experience. Unlike experienced locals, many visitors rent an e-bike without realizing just how remote some of Park City’s trails become.
“When tourists and newbie riders rent eMTBs, they can easily get into the backcountry trails which are not conducive to beginner bike handling skills. Going up is far easier than going down.”
There are still places to ride
The restrictions don’t mean e-bike riders are completely out of luck. Park City’s extensive paved pathway network welcomes Class 1 e-bikes. Designated Class 1 routes like Clark Ranch and the Deer Valley connector provide legal singletrack access before connecting riders into Wasatch County.
Even lift access comes with conditions.
“Currently, Park City Mountain will not load an eMTB on bike haul/lift service unless the bike has a Park City Municipal-issued courtesy tag,” Anthony says.
A different approach
Park City isn’t anti-bike. Quite the opposite. The community has spent decades investing in one of North America’s most impressive trail systems.
The city and its trail-users have simply decided that, for now, the existing trail experience matters more than expanding access for pedal-assist bikes. Whether that changes in five years or ten (or ever) remains to be seen.