After years of often intense debate, it appears that electric mountain bicycles - or e-bikes - will soon be allowed on Marin County’s Mount Tamalpais as part of a three-year pilot program.
E-bikes have become more popular than ever since the initial shelter-in-place orders went into effect in March. But the debate over their use has raged for years.
The Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, which governs about a third of mountain land, is expected to give the go-ahead Tuesday night for use on fire roads. If approved, the proposal goes into effect immediately. Marin Water has conducted a "robust" review process on e-bikes dating back to December 2018.
"It allows people to ride their bikes where they wouldn’t normally be able to or ride with their friends, their stronger friends and have a nice time and keep up with them and not feel like they’re left behind," said Matt Weeder of The New Wheel in Larkspur.
But e-bikes have been opposed by some hikers and the Sierra Club, which worries their use will disturb the natural habitat.
"As a long-time mountain biker, riding on Mt. Tam has always been controversial, no matter what the bike looked like," Weeder said. "I think this just adds another layer to that controversy of course. I think it’s mostly unfounded. I don’t see why you can’t just share the trail."
Only Class 1 e-bikes would be allowed with speeds limited to 15 miles per hour.