Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance releases firm stance on electric mountain bike use

by: Cody Jones, Summit Daily

Though electric bikes are now a common sight at rental shops across Summit County, that wasn’t always the case. Commonly referred to as e-bikes, the enhanced, battery-assisted bicycles have become increasingly popular for people of all ages. 

As the popularity of e-bikes continues to spike across the country, policymakers, the U.S. Forest Service and local organizations have had to make decisions that keep the public safe while also allowing people to enjoy the trails they love.

The Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance is the latest organization to release a firm statement on e-bike use in the county. After ample research and discussion on the topic, Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance has decided to support the use of Class 1 e-bikes on trails where they are currently permitted.

It is important to note that the organization only supports the use of Class 1 e-bikes where users have pedal assist and do not surpass 20 miles per hour. The local mountain bike alliance has no plans to support the use of Class 2 or Class 3 e-bikes which feature a throttle. 

As of summer 2025, the only areas where Class 1 electric mountain bikes are allowed in the county are on the Frisco Peninsula and on the Summit County Recreational Pathway. All classes of e-bikes are allowed on trails that are open to motorized use.

“On Tenderfoot Mountain we are allowed to ride on top with all the moto-trails, but the trails that make a link out of it, we are not allowed on,” Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance secretary Tom Liston said. “They have kind of caged us in there”

Knowing how controversial the topic can be, Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance backs its decision with numerous studies that were conducted by various districts of the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the International Mountain Biking Association and the University of Vermont.

Each study looked deep into the common complaints surrounding electric mountain bikes, which often focus on the environment (flora and fauna), the trails, the trail users’ experience and safety.

Multiple U.S. Forest Service environmental analysis show that there is a finding of no significant impact due to electric mountain bikes. In fact, the impact of electric mountain bikes and regular bikes is “indistinguishable” and soil displacement has been shown to be negligible.

“It’s a concern, but it is based on a myth,” Liston said. “Some people have said that the bikes are heavier, but I am 130 pounds. My old bike and I were 160 pounds. I know a lot of people who are 200-220-pound riders. Should they be banned?”

E-bikes sit on a rack in Breckenridge. E-bikes are currently only allowed on the Frisco Peninsula, the Summit County Recreation Pathway and on U.S. Forest Service land where there is a special-use permit.

From a safety standpoint, the environmental analysis found no uptick in accidents because of the presence of electric mountain bikes. Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance also looked at regional jurisdictions and outdoor areas that allow Class 1 e-bikes and found that accidents have not increased.

According to Frisco Nordic Center and Trails Manager Pete Swenson, the Frisco Peninsula has had no issues regarding electric mountain bikes on its soft-surface trails.

“E-bikes have been welcome on the Frisco Peninsula trails since we started improvements in 2019,” Swenson said. “It’s a welcome user group that is a big part of our visitors out here. From my position, we have not had any incidents on the soft-surface trails. We do know that there have been some incidents on the recpath. The recpath seems to be the most challenging place.”

In terms of crowding and user conflict, both issues were also challenged in the cited studies. Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance said it recognizes that it is often the individuals on the electric mountain bikes that cause issues and is looking into rolling out educational programs at local bike shops and clubs.

“The perception that many people have is not the reality of what eMTBs are all about,” Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance treasurer Wayne Haley said. 

A sign on the Summit County Recreational Pathway in Breckenridge reminds users to walk with their dogs on a leash while using the recpath system. Over the last few years, Summit County Animal Control has seen a steady uptick in at-large dog calls.
Cody Jones/Summit Daily News

With the stance now released to the general public, Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance continues to work with Breckenridge as well as Summit County Open Space and Trails to expand access for e-bikes. 

“Larry (Kelly) and I have put together a Powerpoint presentation about the results of what we found,” Haley said. “We presented that to the Summit County Open Space director Katherine King. We have also presented to the Breck Open Space director Duke Barlow with the hope of getting the opportunity to present to the open space advisory committees in both the county and the town. They simply do not want to talk about it.”

One of the most frustrating things for those in favor of expanding e-bike access is that many people utilize the pedal-assisted bikes as a means to stay active.

“I will be 73 in September and in the last few years I went from being a top climber in the group to becoming a laggard,” Liston said. “My body just decided it did not like to be pushed too hard. I used to like driving myself down until I had like no energy left. It just started to hurt. It was either give up biking or get on an e-bike.”

Liston says that many people have followed in his footsteps, or tire tracks, trading an acoustic bike setup for an e-bike because of health concerns, aging or a variety of other issues.

For these reasons, Summit County Mountain Bike Alliance has been tirelessly attempting to find ways to sway the viewpoints of adversaries as well as local decision makers.

“The naysayers should come and talk,” Liston said. “We can dispel most of their concerns, but they won’t talk. The Forest Service is not opposed to opening trails to eMTB’s. … If it wasn’t for a few people in positions of power to stop it, I think we would already be fully open.”

Barlow and King attest that the Breckenridge and Summit County Open Space and Trails department makes decisions with the public and its land management partners in mind.

“We want to be careful to align with our land management partners when considering changes to existing trail uses and will continue to work with them moving forward as user behavior and recreation trends evolve,” Barlow said. “I encourage anyone interested in discussing the issue further to comment at one of our monthly BOSAC meetings or reach out to me — or anyone in our Open Space department — directly.”

“Summit County continues to collaborate with fellow land managers to address recreation demand, manage user conflicts and safety and protect natural resources and experiences on its trails and open space,” a spokesperson with Summit County Open Space and Trails said.

For more information on e-bike use in the town of Breckenridge, visit BreckOST.com. For more information on e-bike use in Summit County, visit SummitCountyCo.gov.