\u201cAs to the \u2018why\u2019 e-MTB\u2019s are restricted, I\u2019d just say that the singletrack restriction for eMTB\u2019s is the community\u2019s preference at this point,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\n<\/blockquote>\nHikers have spoken<\/h2>\n
Park City\u2019s trail system isn\u2019t just for mountain bikers. Hikers, runners and dog walkers share the same trails. Anthony says repeated community surveys have produced the same result.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn Park City\u2019s trails, there are more hikers than mountain bikers and they\u2019ve spoken up in survey after survey. They don\u2019t want another trail user group, which is expected to be very large and growing, added to the trails.\u201d<\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t necessarily mean opinions won\u2019t change someday. But today, the community has made its preference clear.<\/p>\n
Speed and safety remain concerns<\/h2>\n
Anthony says uphill speed is another concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cFurther, uphill speed of eMTB\u2019s is a perceived problem for both pedestrian trail users and analog mountain bikers.\u201d<\/p>\n
There\u2019s also the issue of rider experience. Unlike experienced locals, many visitors rent an e-bike without realizing just how remote some of Park City\u2019s trails become.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are still places to ride<\/h2>\n
The restrictions don\u2019t mean e-bike riders are completely out of luck. Park City\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Even lift access comes with conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cCurrently, Park City Mountain will not load an eMTB on bike haul\/lift service unless the bike has a Park City Municipal-issued courtesy tag,\u201d Anthony says.<\/p>\n
A different approach<\/h2>\n
Park City isn\u2019t anti-bike. Quite the opposite. The community has spent decades investing in one of North America\u2019s most impressive trail systems.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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