The Trump administration has pressured local national park managers to open trails on NPS lands to electric bicycles. The Valles Caldera staff has joined other parks in submitting to industry and administration pressure to open the park to electric bicycles. 132 miles of “trails” that are closed to motorized vehicles are now open to electric bicycles at the Caldera.
The Trump administration had formed an “advisory group” consisting of electric bicycle manufacturers and mountain biking advocates. The group had closed door meetings with Interior Department officials about opening national parks to electric bicycles. A coalition of conservation groups including Public Employees for Environmental Ethics has filed suit against the administration for violating the Federal Advisory Committee Act which mandates open meetings, public notice, and balanced representation by various interest groups on such committees.
The Interior Department disbanded the advisory group after their secret meetings were exposed but their pressure to open parks to electric bikes worked and many parks now have been opened to this form of motorized travel. The VCNP has stipulated that only electric bicycles with petals and low powered (1hp) motors can be ridden in the park. (High powered electric dirt bikes exist but will not be allowed in the VCNP.)
Caldera Action discovered the electric bike decision when we requested a list of ongoing projects at the VCNP from the staff. The NPS had “categorically excluded” the electric bike decision from National Environmental Policy Act review so it was not announced to the public and only a basic environmental review was conducted. Caldera Action is working with the NPS staff to find a way to help the public know about projects and decisions on an ongoing basis.
