Are E-Bikes Destroying Our Trails? 

So, let's be honest. Who is roosting the trails, and sliding around the corners? It's the young guys who are also going a million miles an hour. Ebikes are bringing old folks with money to spend on trails and restaurants. I think we should be happy to have these guys come out. Kiddos to the volunteers who are building and keeping the trails running!

The mad reality is, the Ebike craze is keeping many trails and centres open at the moment.. and having more of any traffic (anolouge or powered or even walking) on a trail will cause extra damage, that's just a given. I ride both style of bikes, and would honestly say my non-ebike leaves more mess on my local loop, I slide and flick it more and I'm far more aggressive through berms on it, where as my ebike is alot more mellow. So I wouldn't say ebikes are causing more damage just because they're ebikes.. the extra runs/traffic from any bike will effect trails👍

No more bashing, let's hit the a trail!

I’m 62 and just got my first emtb after 12 years on a regular mtb , One of my local trails is a big loop with half of it a climb and the other half a dh section, Normally I would do 2 laps ,but on the ebike can do 4

Around our area, we have a lot of horses and their riders cutting up the Trails, I used to think of it as damage, but, thinking about it, it's good for the trail, and, mountain bikes, wether ebikes or not, then play a positive roll, the horses churn up the ground, stopping seeds and seedings getting a foothold, then, walkers, Cyclist's, travel over the now drying out trails, helping compact the ground again, thus, helping keep the trails open and functional. The heavier the bike, or, rider, the more companion. For me, it's all positive, everyone benefits from everyone's outdoor activities Ps. I've never rides a bike park, in 20 plus years of mountain biking. Now aged 60

Re the tedious 'sustainability' word that everyone parrots because of t.v, I much prefer a one year old trail that's a bit cut up rather than an immaculately groomed new one..

50%? Weird. I have an eMTB, and I have yet to see another one out on the public trails I ride (Midwest USA). I only ride mine about one in five trips, so even I am not an e-bike all that often. Anyone saying they tear up trails is full of crap, and is just being a gatekeeper. What tears up trails is people riding when it is too wet (leaving deep ruts, or avoiding mud thus widening the trail), and/or skidding in a particular section over and over. There are other situations, but they are all behavior-related, not technology-related.

Peddle assist Ebikes don't destroy trails. The most you can say is they increase usage due to easier accessibility.

Honestly tired of this continual ebike bashing, ebikes are the best thing to have ever happened to mtb. Trail wear is part of any biking be it acoustic or electric and if you are a concientious rider you will help maintain your trails. If you live in Scotland trails have always got a thumping every year due to our wonderful weather.

Should fat novice riders on analogue bikes, who like skidding and have a combined weight of more than an ebike and a regular rider be banned? Should we have a weigh in at the start of each trail and a skill level form to be filled in before a panel of judges decide whether they can proceed? Maybe we should build trails but then rope them off so no one rides them, thus keeping them in perfect condition? Maybe, we should just all ride our bikes however we like and have fun before we're too old.

Absolutely tired of the e-bike bashing . Enuf said!

Sorry I missed it, Gareth gave me the shout but was lastminuitedotcom , maybe next time .