Marquette City Police Chief Ryan Grim shows the department’s Class 1 e-bike. He urges the public to use common sense when using e-bikes in the city. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

MARQUETTE — The rise of e-bikes — bicycles that can run on electric power as well as pedaling — has given area riders a new way of getting around. However, they also have raised some confusion about safety rules.

Marquette City Police Chief Ryan Grim said the city has an ordinance that allows Class 1 e-bikes — which are pedal-assisted without a throttle and travel up to 20 mph– on bike paths. On the streets, any e-bike is allowed.

However, most of the complaints come from issues on the bike path, he said.

“Some people are traditionalists,” Grim said. “Some think that they go too fast. Some see several kids on one bike — the throttled ones, the ones with no assist.”

Speed, he acknowledged, seems to be at the crux of the conflict.

“Really, if you’re going over 20 miles per hour, you have no business being on the bike path,” said Grim, with people violating the ordinance getting a citation.

He noted that not everyone can tell the difference between an e-bike and a regular bike.

“Oftentimes, you can’t tell by just looking at them, especially anymore,” Grim said of e-bikes. “The motors are getting smaller. Some are around the hub, the rear wheel. Some are where the crank is.”

Recreation-wise, the MPD is dealing with the new way of riding outdoors.

“We see it as a growing issue,” Grim said. “I don’t see it as being a huge problem right now, but it’s only getting more and more popular.”

Grim said the rise in e-bikes is a good thing as it allows people who can’t ride with a pedal assist to enjoy the bike path.

“I just think we’ve got to stay ahead of it,” he said. “We’ve increased our patrols just on the bike path.”

In fact, the MPD has its own Class 1 e-bike used on patrol, Grim said. Officers also are on foot patrol in the downtown area.

“All we’re looking for is to make sure that people are respectful of other users,” Grim said. “You’ve got a lot of people walking with their children, other bikers, people with dogs with leashes, so they’ve just got to be careful and use common sense.

“If you roll into a crowd, obviously your speed should come down. Just be safe.”

NTN rules

The Noquemanon Trail Network allows Class-1 e-bikes on its single-track trail system, said Jeni Kilpela, community outreach coordinator of the NTN.

“The transition has allowed more people to get out and ride our trails,” Kilpela said in an email. “E-bikes assist users with physical challenges and disabilities, allowing them to enjoy an activity in which they would not otherwise be able to. It helps users enjoy a ride with friends or time in the woods.”

The NTN already has crafted an official policy on the use of e-bikes on its trails, noting that Michigan is one of many states that has adopted a three-class system to regulate e-bike use on streets and pathways.

Class 1 is a pedal-assisted bicycle that travels up to 20 mph, while Class 2 is a pedal-assist and throttle-assist bicycle that also travels up to 20 mph. Class 3 is a throttled bicycle that travels up to 28 mph.

“Throughout the state, Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on paved roads and pathways but not necessarily allowed on natural surfaces designated for nonmotorized use,” the NTN policy states. “The state regulation has left it up to agents who manage properties to designate use of e-bikes on these trails.”

Throughout the U.S., the NTN said, opinions of e-bike use on local pathways and streets are positive, adding that they decrease harmful emissions and fossil fuel use, and in the context of city use, they are decreasing transportation technology.

Consideration of allowing the use of e-bikes on dirt trails, though, is not as simple.

Two major concerns about their use continue to be discussed, one being if e-bikes create a greater impact on trails.

“On an e-bike, the electric motor that assists the rider has a potential to create more torque, which could lead to greater soil displacement,” the NTN policy says. “However, there has been no definitive evidence to show the e-bikes cause more impact on trails.”

It also says electric motor assistance can allow users to travel farther on trails, creating a potential to create a greater impact.

The other issue is the social perception of e-bike use on dirt trails.

“There has been very little research done in this area, but there are implications that this is an issue,” the policy says. “The summer of 2020, the NTN surveyed its members and those who own land that trails go through about e-bike use on the trails. Approximately two-thirds of those who responded were supportive of e-bike use on the trails.

“Members who were not supportive responded more harshly to open questions, leaving one to think that there may be a social issue regarding e-bike use on NTN trails.”

Since the regulations have been in effect, the sale of e-mountain bikes has drastically increased, NTN says. In 2017, sales of e-mountain bikes had increased 91%. NTN also acknowledges that there is a public interest in using them for several reasons.

“E-bikes assist users with physical challenges and disabilities, allowing them to enjoy an activity in which they would not otherwise be able to,” it says. “E-bikes are motor-assisted but do not produce harmful emissions when in use. Class 1 e-bikes are defined as nonmotorized by the Consumer Products Safety Act.

“Finally, Class 1 e-bike use is already prevalent on NTN trails. They are used during special events by event staff, and Marquette County Search and Rescue uses e-bikes to provide emergency assistance, and recreational use of e-bikes is prevalent.”

Because of these factors, the NTN board supports a policy to allow only Class 1 e-bikes to be used on a majority of NTN trails for recreational use if approved by the particular landowner, although Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed.

“It is felt that they are more closely identified as a motorized vehicle and cross the line of non-motorized use and create safety hazards,” the policy says. “E-bike users should be considerate of perceptions toward e-bike use on NTN trails and ride with consideration for those who are pedaling with no assistance.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.