Brecksville - Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) is seeking additional public comments regarding the recent change in the regulation of electric bicycle (e-bike) use in national parks. The park will accept online comments from Monday, December 9, 2019 to Monday, January 6, 2020.
A policy was announced in August by the National Park Service, following a Director’s Order from the Department of Interior. It allows the use of e-bikes, which are low-speed electric bicycles with power assistance, in national parks – only where traditional bicycles are already allowed.
Park superintendents are able to tailor local regulations in consideration of safety, resource protection, or other conflicting uses. In October, CVNP sought public comment and announced a temporary local policy that includes allowing Class 1 and 2 e-bikes where traditional bikes are already allowed, except for the East Rim Mountain Bike Trails. The policy includes a speed limit of 15 mph on the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, because 102 of the 146 comments received were related to concerns about speed and safety on the towpath.
The October announcement included plans for a second public comment period in December. “We heard and appreciate the concerns expressed in the first round of comments. We were required to implement the policy but want to give our users another chance to comment before we finalize it in January 2020,” Superintendent Craig Kenkel said.
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