E-bicycles are endangering trails
The Conejo Valley has many trails that hikers and bikers like to frequent. However, as e-bicyclists gain in number, many people are calling for them to stop going on trails, their high speeds making people fear getting hit.
Motorized and/or electric vehicles are prohibited on federal, state, and local trails, but many still come. These bikes have compact, full-suspension chassis, dirt-specific mini motorcycle tires, silent electric motors, headlights and foot pegs where propulsion does not come from pedaling but instead comes from a twist throttle operating an electric motor, making them very fast but silent.
John Baker, a champion mountain bike rider, believes these bikes are very dangerous to hikers on trails. “Trail users should never have to encounter any motorcycles on any trail in this community, especially rapidly moving machines, which are virtually silent, can cause devastating injuries at any moment,” Baker said.
The Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency (COSCA) has been getting many reports on e-bikes. “These are not e-bikes. These are motorcycles as far as we’re concerned, and they are illegal in the open space. Agencies similar to ours are experiencing some of the same problems,” Brian Stark, director of COSCA, said.
If you see illegal vehicles on COSCA lands, you can help keep the trails safe by calling (805) 495-6471.
