Is it permissible to ride e-bikes on federal lands?

Great news for e-Bike enthusiasts! You can ride your e-Bike on almost all federal recreation lands, including National Parks, National Forests, National Monuments, Wildlife Refuges, and more. The only exception is Army Corps of Engineers projects, where e-Bikes have not yet been addressed.

In 2019, the US Department of the Interior issued Order 3376, which instructed all four of its land management agencies to amend regulations to allow for the use of e-Bikes on their respective lands. This includes the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service. So, get ready to explore the great outdoors on your e-Bike!

Bureau of Land Management

The BLM has recently updated its regulations for off-road vehicles, which now includes e-bikes in the definition of such vehicles. However, to ensure the safety and rights of all users, an additional rule has been implemented. This rule states that e-bike users may enjoy the same rights and privileges as non-motorized bicycle users.

43 CFR § 8342.2
(d) E-bikes.
(1) Authorized officers may allow, as part of a land-use planning or implementation-level decision, e-bikes, or certain classes of e-bikes, whose motorized features are not being used exclusively to propel the e-bike for an extended period of time on roads and trails upon which mechanized, non-motorized use is allowed; and
(2) If the authorized officer allows e-bikes in accordance with this paragraph (d), an e-bike user shall be afforded all the rights and privileges, and be subject to all of the duties, of a user of a non-motorized bicycle.

National Park Service

The National Park Service has implemented a regulation (36 CFR 4.30(i)) that permits the use of e-bikes in all areas where traditional bicycles are new permitted.

36 CFR § 4.30
(i) Electric bicycles.
(1) The use of an electric bicycle may be allowed on park roads, parking areas, and administrative roads and trails that are otherwise open to bicycles. The Superintendent will designate the areas open to electric bicycles, or specific classes of electric bicycles, and notify the public pursuant to 36 CFR 1.7.
(2) The use of an electric bicycle is prohibited in locations not designated by the Superintendent under paragraph (i)(1) of this section.
(3) Except where use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed, using the electric motor exclusively to move an electric bicycle for an extended period of time without pedaling is prohibited.
(4) Possessing an electric bicycle in a wilderness area established by Federal statute is prohibited.
(5) A person operating or possessing an electric bicycle is subject to the following sections of this part that apply to bicycles: §§ 4.12, 4.13, 4.20, 4.21, 4.22, 4.23, and 4.30(h)(3)-(5).
(6) Except as specified in this chapter, the use of an electric bicycle is governed by State law, which is adopted and made a part of this section. Any act in violation of State law adopted by this paragraph is prohibited.
(7) Superintendents may limit or restrict or impose conditions on electric bicycle use, or may close any park road, parking area, administrative road, trail, or portion thereof to such electric bicycle use, or terminate such condition, closure, limit or restriction after:

(i) Taking into consideration public health and safety, natural and cultural resource protection, and other management activities and objectives; and
(ii) Notifying the public through one or more methods listed in 36 CFR 1.7, including in the superintendent's compendium (or written compilation) of discretionary actions referred to in 36 CFR 1.7(b).

Bureau of Reclamation

The USBR has recently revised its regulations pertaining to off-road vehicles [43 CFR 420.5(a)(7)] to incorporate e-bikes within the definition of such vehicles. However, a noteworthy exception has been made to ensure that e-bikes are treated on par with non-motorized bicycles.

43 CFR § 420.5 Definitions.
As used in this part, the term:
(a) Off-road vehicle  means any motorized vehicle (including standard automobile) designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or natural terrain. The term excludes:
(7) Electric bikes as defined by paragraph (h) of this section: While being used on roads and trails upon which mechanized, non-motorized use is allowed, that are not being used in a manner where the motor is being used exclusively to propel the E-bike for an extended period of time, and where the Regional Director has expressly determined, as part of a land-use planning or implementation-level decision, that E-bikes should be treated the same as non-motorized bicycles.

US Fish & Wildlife Service

The FWS has made a significant amendment to its regulation [50 CFR 27.31(m)], which now grants e-bike users the same rights and privileges as non-motorized bicycle riders.