Uncover the laws that govern electric bike usage

Discover which places electric bikes can be used

Explore the evolving electric bike rulemaking landscape

Dig into stats about the latest research into the emerging industry

Explore how you can make your bike shop better with electric bikes

Learn how to bring electric bikes to more people

Build the next generation of trails for everyone to enjoy

Electric bicycle laws are different in every state, and can be confusing for riders, retailers, and suppliers. PeopleForBikes is making riding an electric bicycle easy and accessible for all by working to create clear rules on how and where people can ride electric bicycles. With more coherent laws: Local bicycle shops and manufacturers see increased business and their customers will no longer be confused, people who already ride electric bicycles more easily understand where to ride, and new riders who may be discouraged from riding a traditional bicycle due to limited physical fitness, age, disability or convenience have improved transportation alternatives. 

Find your state's electric bike rules in our list of one-page PDF guides.

Explore Our Electric Bike Information Below

As the popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) continues to rise, it is important for states and municipalities to understand the best methods for regulating this rapidly growing sector of the bike industry and keeping everyone safe on our shared roads and trails.

A groundswell of new proposed legislation at both the state and local levels has occurred in the last few years, and PeopleForBikes is actively involved in drafting and influencing those laws. We also continue engaging with advocates and government leaders on the best approaches to safely and successfully regulating e-bikes as there is a clear need for laws that are reasonable and consistent to keep e-bike riders and our communities safe.

In response to this need, PeopleForBikes launched our E-Bike Legislative Toolkit, compiling best practices, offering model safety-related legislation, and clearly highlighting the intersection of bike infrastructure and education. The toolkit offers a foundation to make it easier to propose and implement safety-related policies and programs while considering each communities’ unique needs and governmental structures.

We invite advocates, retailers, and policymakers across all levels of government to utilize this resource, reach out to us with questions, and borrow what works best for your community in creating effective, equitable, and harmonized e-bike laws. 

PeopleForBikes recommends that government leaders and advocates consider nine key priorities when addressing the safety and regulatory aspects of electric bicycles:

CREATE INFRASTRUCTURE: Prioritize funding and building connected bike networks to improve safety.

ADOPT THE 3-CLASS SYSTEM: Clearly define e-bikes using the three-class model and federal definitions set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

REGULATE OUT-OF-CLASS PRODUCTS + ANTI-TAMPERING: Address unsafe products exceeding power and speed limits set by law.

ENABLE CLASS 1 EMTB ACCESS: Define where e-bikes can be ridden both on and off road, including speed limits on shared paths.

CHAMPION BATTERY AND ELECTRICAL SAFETY: Ensure e-bikes meet applicable safety standards for electrical systems and lithium-ion batteries.

FUND E-BIKE INCENTIVES: Create equitable incentive programs to make e-bikes more affordable.

PROMOTE EDUCATION AND RIDER SAFETY: Implement effective rider education programs.

OPPOSE REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: Avoid unnecessary registration and insurance for e-bikes, which don't significantly reduce road fatalities.

PROVIDE LANDLORD GUIDANCE ON E-BIKES: Encourage landlords to allow safe storage of certified e-bikes.

With so many possibilities and limited resources, it's important to first focus on the greatest needs of your community. We strongly suggest improving infrastructure as the single most important strategy to provide the most impactful and lasting returns on safety and participation.  How does your state and its communities stack up in terms of City Ratings and pending infrastructure projects? Do you have laws in place requiring Complete Streets design standards and allowing communities to lower their speed limits? Is there adequate funding for projects?

Assuming you’re already making strides on infrastructure and growing ridership, you may be hearing concerns about how electric bicycles are being used, the kinds of e-mobility devices appearing on streets and trails, younger riders on e-bikes, or the safety of lithium-ion batteries. PeopleForBikes is very involved in all of these areas, and the E-Bike Legislative Toolkit contains our best advice on addressing them. With these resources, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel to proactively respond to safety concerns and can leverage the work PeopleForBikes, our advocacy partners, and other states and communities have already accomplished.

Last, while we like to focus on the positive, we know that sometimes a defensive battle must be fought against proposed legislation that will negatively impact bike riders or the community.  Confronted with a bad e-bike bill or even a proposal for legislation? Please reach out to us!


If you have any questions about the toolkit or crafting state and local policies or programs related to bicycles and electric bicycles, please reach out to PeopleForBikes Vice President of Government Relations Dr. Ash Lovell at ash@peopleforbikes.org.

Advance Safe and Successful E-Bike Policies With PeopleForBikes’ New Toolkit

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Park Service (NPS) prepared a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to examine environmental impacts associated with the use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) in the National Park System.


The findings from the PEA confirmed that the inclusion of e-bikes where bicycles are already allowed has "no significant impact" on the environment or user experience. PeopleForBikes welcomes the findings of the NPS assessment affirming the use of e-bikes on paths, roads, and trails where traditional bikes are already allowed across the National Park System. The ruling also gives individual park superintendents the discretionary authority to make decisions regarding e-bike use within their national park.

The study comes after years of debate regarding the impact of e-bikes on wildlife and visitor experiences. The PEA was conducted to address inadequacies in NEPA compliance associated with a 2020 NPS ruling (85 FR 69175), which defines the term “electric bicycle” and establishes rules for how they may be used, and to assess the impacts of the rule on a national level.


The rule’s findings resolve previous regulatory uncertainty about whether e-bikes were subject to existing regulations governing motor vehicles and traditional bicycles. The ruling specifically excludes e-bikes from the definition of “motor vehicle” and defines an “electric bicycle” within the model three-class system. Additionally, the rule prohibits e-bikes in areas, including public roads and parking areas, that have not been designated by the superintendent for e-bike use. The exception is where the use of motor vehicles by the public is allowed. Additionally, the rule prohibits using the electric motor exclusively to move an e-bike for an extended period of time without pedaling. The rule applies the same operational requirements to e-bikes that apply to traditional bicycles.


The rule does not mandate the use of e-bikes anywhere in the National Park System. Instead, it authorizes park superintendents to allow e-bikes where traditional bicycles are already allowed. The superintendent of each park unit has the discretion to allow e-bike use — or not — on a case-by-case basis. 

PeopleForBikes believes e-bikes can be responsibly integrated into park systems with thoughtful policies in place. Many parks, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, have already undergone the NEPA review process and authorized the use of e-bikes on park paths, setting an example for other parks to follow.

For more information on the PEA’s findings and a summary of the document, visit PeopleForBikes’ Research Library. 


For more information on nationwide e-bike policies and PeopleForBikes’ ongoing e-bike advocacy work, please visit peopleforbikes.org/topics/electric-bikes or email Senior Manager of Recreation Policy Rachel Fussell at rachel@peopleforbikes.org.

National Park Service Releases Environmental Assessment on E-Bike Use in National Parks

Every year, PeopleForBikes advocates on behalf of the bike industry and bike riders across the country to support the construction of fun, safe, and connected places to ride that welcome more people to the joys of bicycling. 


From championing e-mobility lithium-ion battery safety, to mandating Complete Streets for improved road safety, to advancing the construction of bike infrastructure through climate legislation, PeopleForBikes successfully advocated for a multitude of policies at the state and local levels during the 2024 legislative session that will support bike businesses and riders of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds nationwide.

The safety of e-mobility lithium-ion batteries was a top priority for many states and communities across the U.S. this legislative session.

Following the guidance of PeopleForBikes and other industry experts, New York passed legislation to ensure the quality and safety of e-mobility products while maintaining accessibility to equitable transportation options. The legislation requires that e-bike and other e-mobility lithium-ion batteries be tested to standards that ensure the safety of the products the batteries power. It also enables the enforcement of products that do not meet these standards and contribute to unsafe conditions, including battery fires. 


Read more about this important legislation.

In June, the Chicago City Council committed to working with the bicycle industry and other stakeholders to amend a proposed battery safety ordinance to align with similar safety legislation in New York so individuals, retailers, and manufacturers can rely on consistent e-bike battery testing requirements across the country.

PeopleForBikes looks forward to continuing our work with states and municipalities across the country to promote uniform and effective battery testing regulations that ensure that e-bike batteries sold and used in the U.S. meet the highest safety standards.


PeopleForBikes recognizes the three-class system as the framework to categorize and regulate low-speed electric bicycles (e-bikes). Currently, 43 states officially recognize our model legislation. In 2024, Oregon and Rhode Island signed the three-class system into law. This system promotes a uniform definition of e-bikes across the country to mitigate confusion for riders, retailers, manufacturers, and regulators. 

PeopleForBikes will continue supporting the classification of electric bicycles as bicycles (not motorized vehicles) and will work with legislators to showcase the need for clear definitions and strong enforcement so that bicycles, and bicycling infrastructure, are protected. 


Out-of-Class Electric Vehicle Legislation 

Due to the constantly evolving range of electrically powered devices entering the marketplace and the growth of their use nationwide, PeopleForBikes led efforts to define products that exceed the speed and power limitations of the three-class system and federal law as out-of-class electric vehicles (OCEVs). 


Utah and Minnesota passed landmark OCEV legislation to promote safety and protect hard-won access for bicycles on state trails and paths. You can read more both here and here about why this legislation is so critical. 


PeopleForBikes will continue helping states and municipalities better define and enforce the difference between electric bicycles and overpowered, higher-speed, out-of-class electric vehicles (including electric dirt bikes) to protect the rights of bike riders across the country.

Cities and states nationwide continue to prioritize sustainable, equitable, and accessible forms of transportation through e-bike purchase incentives and rebate programs. This year, the Atlanta City Council approved a $1 million incentive for the purchase of e-bikes and the Bentonville City Council in Arkansas approved $2.25 million in grant funding for an e-bike rebate program.


With $20 million in funding approved in 2023, Portland City Council approved an implementation plan for the city’s e-bike incentive program set to launch in 2025. Michigan legislators also approved $2.95 million in funding for an e-bike purchase incentive program in their state budget to implement a statewide e-bike transportation incentive program. 

The 2024 legislative session included many recreation policy wins that PeopleForBikes helped secure to continue building momentum for eMTB access on natural surface trails. 

In Oregon and Colorado, PeopleForBikes supported the passage of recreational immunity bills that protect landowners from liability resulting from the use of their lands by other individuals for recreational purposes, including mountain biking.

The Tahoe National Forest prepared a Decision Notice/Finding of No Significant Impact (DN/FONSI) and final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Pines to Mines Trail Project. The project, totaling 72 miles of new, natural surface trails, will provide expanded recreation opportunities on National Forest System lands. It also authorizes the use of Class 1 electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) on all new and existing trails where traditional mountain bikes are already allowed within the project area.

A National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment is also underway in the Tahoe National Forest, utilizing a forest-wide approach. This first-of-its-kind approach could yield historic results that allow entire forest districts to allow Class 1 eMTBs on natural surface trails, as opposed to laws differing by individual trail systems. 


Look out for more recreation and eMTB policy wins as we continue engagement with state and local land managers to open access for Class 1 eMTBs on multi-use singletrack trails in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Utah. Additionally, PeopleForBikes is working on recreational trail access for mountain biking within the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule. 


A lack of safe places to ride is one of the most significant barriers preventing Americans from biking. Dedicated funding streams for the construction of bike infrastructure creates more safe and connected places to bike, which in turn increases bicycling participation. The construction of bike infrastructure also contributes to other co-benefits, including positive public health outcomes, economic vitality, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and transportation equity.  


As of July, PeopleForBikes has helped secure nearly $1.5 billion for the construction of bike infrastructure that increases safe places to ride bikes through our 2024 VoteForBikes campaign. With a potential $2 billion more on the November general election ballot, 2024 is shaping up to be a big year for bike infrastructure funding. Stay tuned for our post-election VoteForBikes recap to see how much funding PeopleForBikes helped secure for local communities across the country! 


In addition to our work advocating for bikes at the ballot box, PeopleForBikes supported additional legislation to fund bike infrastructure, including Minnesota’s Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund that invests more than $11 million in the expansion and enhancement of recreational trails, active transportation infrastructure, and mountain bike access across the state. 


Passing dedicated funding streams for bikes and bike infrastructure at the state and local levels is the most important policy priority for PeopleForBikes. We will continue paving the way for the construction of infrastructure that allows more people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds across the country to safely and efficiently travel around their communities and access more opportunities to ride a bike.


PeopleForBikes continues to advocate for legislation that reduces serious injuries, saves lives, and allows people to travel safely throughout their community with confidence. Reducing speed limits and actual vehicle speeds is one of the most effective ways to improve road safety and save lives.

After four years of hard work, PeopleForBikes was honored to support local advocates in New York as Governor Kathy Hochul signed Sammy’s Law into law in May. The new law allows New York City to implement a 20 mile per hour speed limit with additional 10 and 15 mile per hour zones. This legislation will dramatically increase safety for people walking and biking on roads with a high volume of motor vehicles. 


Michigan and Virginia also passed legislation that makes it easier for local municipalities to lower speed limits that are appropriate for the context and needs of those communities. 

We know that in addition to lower speed limits, safer road designs reduce motor vehicle speeds, one of the most significant causes of serious injuries and deaths on roads. As a result, Complete Streets mandates — which require the construction of bike infrastructure when roads are reconstructed or repaved — are one of the most effective policies communities can implement for improved road safety. Complete Streets also close gaps in transportation networks and enable all road users, regardless of their mode of transportation, to easily access places that they need to go. PeopleForBikes will continue to fight for legislation that mandates Complete Streets to promote safe and thriving communities. 

In March, voters in Los Angeles, California, one of the nation’s most car-centric cities, approved Measure HLA. This requires the implementation of the city’s Mobility Plan, including bike and pedestrian infrastructure when road construction or repaving occurs. PeopleForBikes endorsed this measure to increase transportation opportunities and accessibility, improve road safety, promote health, and reduce transportation-related GHG emissions. 


As part of historic legislation, Minnesota also strengthened the state’s Complete Streets policy by adding PeopleForBikes-supported amendments that require the integration of Complete Streets design principles and offer implementation guidance.

Advancing Bike Infrastructure Through Climate Legislation 

There is significant momentum across the country to fund active transportation infrastructure through climate legislation in order to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and GHG emissions. Maryland Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order establishing annual GHG and VMT reduction targets for his state’s transportation sector, requiring the Maryland Department of Transportation to implement a process for evaluating and reducing GHG emissions attributable to transportation projects, and investing in projects that reduce VMT and enhance transportation choices. 

Looking ahead to the 2025 legislative session, PeopleForBikes is actively involved in several local coalitions supporting climate legislation to curb transportation-related GHG emissions. Stay tuned for more bike infrastructure and climate legislation wins next year! 

There is already huge momentum for bikes and 2024 is not finished yet! At all levels of government and at the ballot box, PeopleForBikes is championing policies that create safer and more connected places to ride alongside supporting legislation that maintains safe, reliable, and quality products to get more people on bikes more often. 


You can help us achieve even more! By making a donation to PeopleForBikes, we can make an even greater impact in communities like yours all across the country. You can also sign up to receive our advocacy alerts to learn how you can support similar policy wins where you live.

PeopleForBikes’ 2024 Policy Wins Advance Bicycling Safety and Access Nationwide

The New York Senate recently passed a slate of micromobility safety legislation, sending four bills to Governor Hochul’s desk for approval. If signed into law, these policies will set a new standard for lithium-ion battery safety, offering a model for other states to protect consumers and first responders from uncertified and unsafe batteries.

“With the electric mobility market continuing to evolve, our team is collaborating with state governments on model legislation,” said Dr. Ash Lovell, electric bike policy and campaign director at PeopleForBikes. “This package of bills in New York is a great example of how the expertise of our PeopleForBikes team can complement the legislative process to deliver complete solutions.”

As the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association, PeopleForBikes works to prioritize bicycles in government decisions at the federal, state, and local levels and advocates for policies and legislation that benefit both everyday riders and bike businesses across the U.S. Our policy efforts include protecting bike businesses from trade and tariff issues, advancing sustainability and climate initiatives centering bikes as a solution, improving recreational access for bikes on our public lands, and making electric bicycles safer and more accessible for all Americans.

In collaboration with Call2Recycle, leading battery recycling experts in North America, PeopleForBikes also supports an industrywide e-bike battery recycling program to promote the safe and responsible disposal of old e-bike batteries to keep them out of landfills. The program offers brands and consumers a proactive solution to battery recycling as other cities and states across the country look to address e-bike battery safety. 


Keeping Unsafe, Untested Batteries Off the Market

Part of the New York legislation, the Batteries For Micromobility Devices, Bicycles With Electric Assist, And Limited Use Motorcycles Act (S154F/A4938D) will establish statewide standards for the manufacture and sale of lithium-ion batteries for e-mobility products (like e-bikes). The new policy aims to protect riders by keeping unregulated, unsafe batteries off the market while allowing manufacturers who already meet safety standards to continue sales with minimal impact.

The legislation also includes an important amendment, supported by PeopleForBikes, which recognizes battery standards from Europe (EN 15194) and the U.S. (UL 2849) for electric bicycles and their drive systems. It also specifies that testing labs must be properly accredited or be an OSHA-approved nationally recognized testing lab (NRTL). This ensures only high-quality, tested batteries are used in e-mobility products, reducing the risk of accidents or malfunctions due to unsafe batteries. At the local level, the New York City Council previously adopted this same approach to lab accreditation, also suggested by PeopleForBikes.

“Our team advocated for the European and American e-bike standards in New York since both of these testing standards are proven and powerful tools to prevent battery fires,” said Matt Moore, PeopleForBikes’ policy counsel. “We hope other states will follow suit to implement EN 15194 or UL 2849 as the gold standard for battery testing for electric bicycles.” 

A number of other bills that cleared the state legislature put New York on the leading edge of lithium-ion battery safety in the nation. Senator Cordell Cleare and Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia sponsored S6809B/ A6811C, which requires the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to establish a sustainable lithium-ion battery exchange program for New Yorkers using old, untested batteries to power their e-mobility devices, many of whom rely on those devices for delivery work.

Senator Cleare and Representative Manny De Los Santos sponsored S8743/A9338, which will direct the New York Department of State to develop and maintain safety resources with respect to fire hazard prevention for lithium-ion batteries. These bills provide tangible and actionable safety solutions to the challenges New York faces with battery fires while also encouraging New Yorkers to better understand their responsibilities and role in fire prevention.


This critical progress in New York will help shape e-bike battery safety regulations nationwide. PeopleForBikes looks forward to working with other state and local legislators, as well as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in advancing consistent and harmonized regulatory standards for lithium-ion batteries used in electric bicycles and other mobility products.

New York Legislation Leads the Nation on E-Mobility Safety

On May 24, Minnesota leapt forward in a statewide effort to create safer streets for all road users as Governor Tim Walz signed HF5247 into law, placing Minnesota at the leading edge of bicycle safety in the nation.


PeopleForBikes applauds the sponsors of this landmark legislation for their leadership and vision: Senators Liz Bolden, Kelly Morrison, and Scott Dibble and Representatives Lucy Rehm, Steve Elkins, Frank Hornstein, Larry Kraft, Brad Tabke, and Andy Smith. PeopleForBikes also recognizes the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota for their pivotal advocacy work and legislative leaders Senator Scott Dibble and Rep. Frank Hornstein for shepherding this important legislation through a very busy session.


“We are committed to partnerships with local leaders and nonprofit organizations, including PeopleForBikes,” said Michael Wojcik, executive director of the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota. “Through our collaborative efforts, we have once again passed nation-leading policy improving the equity, health, and safety of all Minnesotans."


The bicycle-related aspects of this transportation bill go further than any other state-level bicycle safety policy by recognizing that motorists bear a responsibility for keeping vulnerable road users, like people walking and riding bicycles, safe from collisions with their much larger, more dangerous vehicles. The new law updates driver education standards to include information about driving amongst vulnerable road users, the rights and responsibilities of vulnerable road users, best practices to minimize dangers and avoid collisions, and the duties of a driver when encountering vulnerable road users.

Additionally, the law updates the definition of an “electric-assisted bicycle” to more accurately define what is not an electric-assisted bicycle due to it exceeding lawful limits on speed or power. Electric bicycles that can switch between one or more of the three classes, called multiple-mode e-bikes, must not be able to go faster than 20 miles per hour when the throttle is engaged. The policy clearly distinguishes between electric bicycles that fit within the three-class system and devices that go too fast or have too much power and are therefore not electric bicycles.


Finally, the legislation requires that the state commissioner of the Department of Transportation must implement a Complete Streets policy in consultation with local governments, regional agencies, and other stakeholders. Complete Streets policies require the planning, scoping, and maintenance of roads to address the safety and accessibility needs of all road users, specifically those walking, biking, and rolling. Previous statutory language in Minnesota made Complete Streets implementation much more discretionary. 

Protected, connected bicycle infrastructure and a clear delineation of responsibility and threats for vulnerable road users will make Minnesota the safest state to ride a bicycle, and PeopleForBikes sees this landmark legislation as a model for other states to follow suit. Minnesotans can look forward to more and better educational resources, safer places to ride, and a clearer understanding of what is and what is not an electric bicycle as they move about their state.

Minnesota on Track to Become the Safest State to Ride a Bicycle

With daffodils blooming around the turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe and fresh snow atop the surrounding peaks, hundreds of passionate trail managers, advocates, and experts gathered for the 2024 National Outdoor Recreation Conference earlier this May. The conference focused on how outdoor recreation — including mountain biking — can benefit communities of all sizes and addressed the growing pains of moving toward a more accessible outdoor future. 


The National Outdoor Recreation Conference is a biannual conference that promotes durable, equitable, and transformative solutions to support outdoor recreation destinations, local communities, and the outdoor recreation workforce. Regional, state, and federal land managers, researchers, conservationists, mountain bike organizations, and public officials all attended the conference.


PeopleForBikes and staff from Tahoe National Forest (TNF) presented a session titled "Innovation, Adaptation, and Access: Leading the Way for Pedal-Assist Electric Mountain Bikes on Trails.” During the session, Eli Ilano, district supervisor with Tahoe National Forest, and Rachel Fussell, senior manager of recreation policy with PeopleForBikes, shared the current state of electric mountain bike (eMTB) use on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands, the latest research on the environmental and social impacts of eMTBs, and a model for how other USFS districts and federal land managers can expand access for eMTBs. 


Participants learned how land managers plan and manage eMTB use on federal public lands, specifically on USFS-managed trails. Using the case study of Tahoe National Forest, attendees learned how Class 1 eMTBs were introduced on natural surface trails, TNF’s plans for the future, and how eMTBs have been integrated into TNF’s recreational management plans. Rounding out the discussion, PeopleForBikes shared the latest research and additional case studies of eMTB use on natural surface trails. The session also explored how land managers and recreational professionals can utilize these examples and apply the lessons to trail management in their communities.

The following are six high-level takeaways from this year’s conference:


Planning for Sustainable Tourism
Outdoor recreation is a big and growing part of the U.S. economy and needs leaders who can think long- and short-term for the well-being of their community members. By integrating outdoor recreation into community planning and development efforts, local governments can strengthen economic and environmental resilience and improve quality of life for residents, offering significant benefits for everyone.

For example, the Recreation Economy for Rural Communities (RERC) program, a federal partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the USFS, the Northern Border Regional Commission, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, supports rural communities by leveraging the power of outdoor recreation to revitalize main streets and diversify economies through planning grants. For forward-looking communities, planning for sustainable tourism fosters community revitalization, protects air and water quality, creates jobs, supports economic diversification, and offers new opportunities for people to connect with nature.

Recreation as a Lifeline for Communities in Transition 
As climate change intensifies, more localities are moving away from extractive and energy-intensive industries while looking for opportunities to improve environmental quality and spur economic growth. Outdoor recreation can create ecotourism opportunities while also improving quality of life for long-term residents of the host community through trails and recreational infrastructure. Although ecotourism and outdoor recreation may cause challenges for smaller communities that don’t currently have the infrastructure or amenities, investing in outdoor recreation can provide numerous benefits including better water, cleaner air, and healthier habits for residents.

The Sand Wash/Little Yampa Canyon community in northwest Colorado is an example of a rural economy in transition. The coal industry once drove the small town’s economy, but the city is shutting down a coal-fired power plant by 2028. In lieu of that economic driver, the landscape and region lends itself to an abundance of potential outdoor recreation. Additionally, the outdoor recreation hub of Steamboat Springs is only 45 minutes down the road. The Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative helped gather a diverse group of stakeholders to understand how to plan for and work on the long- and short-term strategy for the transitioning economy.

Regional and Local Partnerships are Key 
Strategic partnerships drive sustainable recreation. The great outdoors crosses numerous jurisdictions and use cases, so bringing land managers, landowners, and local leaders together is critical to success.

The Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan is one such success story. The Lake Tahoe region faced a shrinking tax base and declining population due to a lack of affordable housing and increasing wildfires due to climate change. Outdoor recreation, business, environmental organization, and nonprofit leaders came together to create the Destination Stewardship Plan. This core group spearheaded public engagement through community surveys to create a shared vision and design process around destination stewardship for the environment and recreational assets. This collaborative process resulted in a shared vision: “a cherished place, welcoming to all, where people, communities, and nature benefit from a thriving tourism and outdoor recreation economy.” 

Organizing is Powerful
Mountain biking advocacy groups offer a model for how outdoor recreation can shape and inform planning and decision-making for entire communities. Many times, mountain bike groups are one of the most influential voices for conservation and stewardship, as well as recreation access.

During the session, “Recreation Solutions for Communities with Emerging Outdoor Recreation Economies,” one main example of organizing for better recreational land use planning was the formation of Pedal United in Montana. The community saw a gap in access for mountain bikers on their public lands and took action by forming the organization. The group worked with the Bureau of Land Management to plan and fund the recreation projects that were best for the community and their needs. The end result was 80 miles of trail managed and maintained for mountain bikers in southeast Montana.

Youth and Professional Career Development
Fostering a talent pipeline in outdoor recreation initiatives provides opportunities for youth to strengthen their connection with nature, develop leadership skills, cultivate responsibility and environmental stewardship, and build professional skills to keep those who wish to stay in these communities from having to leave for better economic opportunities. By empowering youth to take an active role in outdoor activities (such as participating in a National Interscholastic Cycling Association league or creating one in their community) or learning how to maintain and build trails, young people interested and engaged in outdoor recreation nurture a new generation of environmental stewards and create jobs to sustain and grow the community.

Outdoor Recreation and Equity Solutions
Unfortunately, in many areas, access to outdoor recreation is inequitably distributed. It can be less abundant in lower-income neighborhoods with a larger share of minority residents, which can be exacerbated by a history of segregation in public places and a lack of racial and ethnic representation in recreation and conservation organizations.

The benefits of parks, trails, and outdoor recreation assets are greatest for those who live closest to these resources, and a disparity in access holds significant health, social, and economic implications. However, more cities and towns are incorporating more recreation access — through loan programs and after-school programming — as part of their planning, development, and revitalization standards. Moving beyond recreation as an amenity and holistically incorporating recreation contributes to other public health, climate resilience, and transportation goals.


Climate change, an increasing user base, resource degradation, and lack of education present wide-ranging consequences for land managers, advocacy organizations, and communities throughout the U.S. We all need to continue working to build and sustain the amazing growth of our outdoor recreation community and industry in recent years. The land that hosts these outdoor recreation opportunities depends on the respect and care we show for it whenever we get outside.

Representing the Bicycle Industry at the National Outdoor Recreation Conference

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