I am pretty excited about new trails up here. However the maps they provide are crappy. I live in the KB area and the maps for this area are missing a good portion of the trails and are not clear if e-bikes are allowed or not for the trails it does show.
As for the rim trail, probably best to not allow e-bikes as it is already super crowded with hikers and backpackers. However, the rim trail is needed in spots just to get to other trails that do allow e-bikes so I hope they are thinking about ways to connect these trails.

For example, trail 18E23 (griff creek trail) & 18E4A (KB trail)on this map; are e-bikes allowed on this? Map doesn’t make it clear as far as I can tell.

 

I am pretty excited about new trails up here. However the maps they provide are crappy. I live in the KB area and the maps for this area are missing a good portion of the trails and are not clear if e-bikes are allowed or not for the trails it does show.
As for the rim trail, probably best to not allow e-bikes as it is already super crowded with hikers and backpackers. However, the rim trail is needed in spots just to get to other trails that do allow e-bikes so I hope they are thinking about ways to connect these trails.

For example, trail 18E23 (griff creek trail) & 18E4A (KB trail)on this map; are e-bikes allowed on this? Map doesn’t make it clear as far as I can tell.

Yeah there is no legend on the maps corresponding to the style of line on the map for those trails. But you and I both know that nobody is on those trails except people that live in our neighbourhood I actually can't recall ever seeing another human on either of those trails.

And the bit down at the end of Cambridge is just ridiculous. Proposing to make an overgrown double-track "e-bike legal!" when there's only really 1-sided access to it (i.e. it's a dead-end), there's 0 reason for anybody ever to be on it except a few locals just taking a short-cut from their house to the "real" trails, and the dirt road and trail it connects to is already moto-legal. And then the "proposed trail" that they've added on to it with the new trailhead is asinine. The trail already ends at a perfectly good spot with a gate and a nice quiet dead-end exit with plenty of space to park cars, but instead they're proposing to make some random little bit of trail that goes right out to 267, one of the busiest roads in the area with 0 parking and constant traffic.

The reality of all those trails in KB is: do what you want. Half of them are moto-legal anyway.

 

In essence, the Forest Service is simply following what other government agency policy is, which is to allow class 1, pedal assist, on trails. This is the general policy of the National Park Service, they have for a few years, allowed class 1’s on the carriage roads at Acadia National Park.

And at Dirt, you are saying reduce crowds by eliminating e-bikes ?. Some would argue, allow e-bikes and eliminate hikers. How’s that going to be received. You can’t single out a particular user group. You can institute a permit system maybe.

 

And at Dirt, you are saying reduce crowds by eliminating e-bikes ?. Some would argue, allow e-bikes and eliminate hikers. How’s that going to be received. You can’t single out a particular user group. You can institute a permit system maybe.

Ebikes are already not allowed on the rim trail on the Cali side and this new decision doesn’t seem to change that so e-bikes are not being eliminated.

The rim trail already has a lot of traffic with so many hikers and backpackers and I think the idea is to not add another user group to this already crowded trail. Once I get off the rim trail on to the more mtb specific trails I almost never see hikers. These types of trails are everywhere in the basin and I think are perfect for allowing e-bikes as there is less interaction with other types of trail users who move at slower speeds.

I say keep all the hikers and backpackers on the rim trail please so we can cruise all of the real treasure up here without having to worry about vals around every corner

 

Yay! Pedantic argument when y'all are on the same side!

 

The funniest part of the SFGATE article is the picture of the marlette lake overlook portion of the Tahoe rim trail, in the Nevada state park area. It is the only section of the TRT open to class 1 e bikes. From TAMBA website:

NEVADA STATE PARKS
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park does allow e-bikes on trails intended for use by bikes. This means that e-bikes are allowed on the Flume Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) between Hobart Road and the park boundary north of Tunnel Creek Road. E-bikes are not allowed on the TRT from Mount Rose to Tunnel Creek or on Chimney Beach Trail because these trails are on USFS land designated for non-motorized use.

So the famous flume trail is open to e bikes in the Nevada state park section.

 

The funniest part of the SFGATE article is the picture of the marlette lake overlook portion of the Tahoe rim trail in the Nevada state park area,. It is the only section of the TRT open to class 1 e bikes. From TAMBA website:

NEVADA STATE PARKS
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park does allow e-bikes on trails intended for use by bikes. This means that e-bikes are allowed on the Flume Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT) between Hobart Road and the park boundary north of Tunnel Creek Road. E-bikes are not allowed on the TRT from Mount Rose to Tunnel Creek or on Chimney Beach Trail because these trails are on USFS land designated for non-motorized use.

So the famous flume trail is open to e bikes in the Nevada state park section.

Class 2 e-bikes are allowed as well. Go figure

 

Some of these trails that are supposedly going to allow access for e-bikes seem strange.

For example trail N20 in KB below is proposed to be opened up to allow e-bikes. This “trail” is a power line access road for trucks, not a recreation trail. I ride on part of it to get back home from the KB trail system.
Why is this part of the proposal?

 

I hardly see anyone on the trails off the TRT. I see a ton of people on the rim trail though.

I do find the lack of signage odd if they really don’t want e-bikes on the rim trail. I headed up the TRT last weekend and just happened to stop and look at the trail sign. No mention of e-bikes. Another trail head sign accross the 267 is similar. I know there is a sign that says “no e-bikes” on the rim trail at a higher elevation crossing, but not at the major trail heads. I am not sure how out-of-towners are supposed to know e-bikes are not allowed on the rim trail if they just bring their own ebike up and go for a ride.

 

Well simply, in the eyes of the local(Tahoe) FS, Ebikes are motorized and not allowed with the exception of Nevada State Park (Tahoe Flume). The rule for the last couple of years states that the local managers make the decision and unless things have changed recently, no motorized. I think the FS a few years ago went thru a process with public comment. A change was in the works but a threat of lawsuit by the horse lobby ended that so no change to Ebike exclusion. Of course, no enforcement so "Run what you brung"

 

Good Timing! My emtb comes in a couple days! 🤙

 

Here are a couple more trail head TRT signs from my ride yesterday. It’s like e-bikes don’t even exist. There is no enforcement like you said but even if there was, without any sort of signage not sure they would be able to give someone a fine.