riding an electric/e-bicycle in national parks...

[jimkorsog]

I was under the impression that electric bicycles/e-bikes were governed by the same rules as a bicycle without electric assist...so long as the 'motor' was less than 500 watts and did not go faster than 20 mph?

I was planning on taking a trip to DC, from MI (my home) later this month and ride the C&O towpath/trail, but I was told that no sort of 'motorized' vehicle, including electric bikes, was allowed on the path?!

Along those lines, I found some websites on the 'net that do tours in National Parks on "electric bikes"...so, what's up with that?!
Are there different rules for every Nat. Pk.? and if a guy can ride his e-bike in one Nat. Pk. but not another, how does that make sense?

Just asking...

thanks in advance for your feedback...

Jim K...just outside the Motor City

[FredHiltz]

It varies among the parks and on different roads within some parks.

http://www.nps.gov/search/index.htm?query=electric+bicycle+laws covers some of them, but a call to the park seems in order.

Fred

[jimkorsog]

Thanks for the feedback, Fred...

and I wrote an email to one of the Park administrators a couple hours ago in this regard...hopefully, I'll get something more than merely another 'generic' response (that person I wrote to had written me prior, stating 'no motorized vehicles allowed on trail...blah...blah' 

Jim K.

[DaveB]

Without reading the regulations I expect electric bikes are allowed on regular automobile roads but not on trails.  They are probably in the same catagory as motorcycles.   

[indyfabz]

Without reading the regulations I expect electric bikes are allowed on regular automobile roads but not on trails.  They are probably in the same catagory as motorcycles.

Makes total sense.

OP:  Note that the C&O is not inclusive of the GAP, which runs between Pittsburgh, PA and Cumberland, MD, where you pick up the C&O. Thought I would point that out since some people plan to ride both and think the C&O includes the GAP, and vice versa. The GAP is not a NPS facilitiy. "Motorized vehilces" (except for wheelchairs) are prohibited. Don't know how that term is defined. If the GAP is in your plans, you should contact the ATA for more details:

http://www.atatrail.org/pv/tripprep.cfm#rules