DG wrote on 10/01/17 at 12:23pm:
My question is do you think that this will change? Do you think that the industry as in many other cases will promote their will and ask for changes or if is too early to say?
I think we will continue to see their use restricted on some trails, and encouraged on others.
Like you point out, it's up to individual land owners/managers whether to allow them or not.
As the technology progresses I suspect we'll see e-bikes get lighter and more powerful. So, how would one regulate something with the weight of a bicycle but the power of a dirt bike? Sure, it's in the industries best interest to welcome everybody to the party. And they are heavily involved in marketing these as mountain bikes. Sort of blurring the traditional line between dirt bikes (motorcycles) and bicycles.
I think most public multi-use trails will keep the status quo as it is for now, and continue to regulate whether a particular vehicle has a motor intended for propelling itself or not.
Beyond that, like every other vehicle under the sun, everyone has to make the decision whether to acquire one for trail riding and the choice of whether to follow the rules on the trail in which they ride, or not. As long as they are a responsible human being and follow posted rules intended to protect every ones safety, access and sanity on the trail, I don't have a problem with them.
However, it doesn't make any sense to me for some to express anger at other trail or forum users for simply pointing out these rules, or the politics behind why these rules are in place.