It is predicted that there will be 17 million electric bike sales annually by 2030, according to sustainability and green-living site TheRoundup.
With the number of e-bikes on the rise, the Montour Trail Council has seen some issues with their use on the Bethel Park spur.
“For the most part, most users are fine,” said John Dorman, trail council vice president. “There are periodic complaints in selective areas of the trail that tend to congregate around Bethel and Peters with people riding at excessive speed.”
Dorman said there have also been people who witnessed users shouting at other trailgoers.
“The complaints tend to center around young people on the trail riding e-bikes,” he said.
The trail has a set of rules in place to ensure safety and enjoyment for all users, including a speed limit of 15 mph; no motorized vehicles or devices, except for e-bikes; and keep right except to pass and warn before passing, according to the trail’s website. In accordance with state law people under age 16 should not be operating e-bikes.
Speeding is a fundamental safety issue due to the fact it is a multi-user trail, according to Dorman.
“You could have somebody walking down the trail with a dog or a kid,” he said. “If someone is coming by at an excessive rate of speed loses control, or a kid or a person steps in front of the bikes, that’s a bad accident waiting to happen.”
Dorman said that although the speed limit is 15 mph, the conditions of the trail should be taken into consideration, such as a slower speed on a crowded trail.
Jim Richter, a member of the Friends of the Montour Trail in Bethel Park, thinks the conversation goes beyond e-bike safety.
“It’s having respect when one is on the trail, no matter how they are doing it,” Richter said, giving examples of “walking with a dog on a leash or pushing a stroller with their kids.”
He is concerned for the safety of everyone on the trail whether it be walkers, people pushing baby carriages, elderly folk trying to stay in shape and the riders, themselves.
Richter said people might not understand the reason why these rules are in place.
“I think many of these folks don’t realize that, until some sort of tragedy occurs directly affecting them, the reasons we have to have these kinds of safety rules,” he said.
There is a group of individuals who participate in trail patrol, but they are not allowed to stop anybody, according to Richter. The patrollers ride their bikes up and down the trail carrying first-aid kits and bike repair tools, helping individuals in need.
Because the Montour Trail is private property, owned by the nonprofit trail council, there is not much the police can do to enforce the rules of the trail, according to John Oakes, Bethel Park Council president.
“We are not allowed to issue citations for speeding and speed enforcement,” Oakes said. “If a crime happens, obviously, we can assist with that, but we cannot enforce speeding.”
The municipality is willing to help in other ways.
“If they want to come out with an educational campaign, the municipality can help put it on social media,” Oakes said.
Dorman gave insight on what bystanders can do when someone is misbehaving.
“Everybody’s got a cellphone. Everybody has a camera with them all the time. Get pictures of the bad actors and report the event, either to the Montour Trail patrol or directly to the local police jurisdiction,” Dorman said. “Rude behavior, unfortunately, is not critical. Dangerous behavior can be a violation of the law. Underage operators can be a violation of law.”
Dorman said that he does not want people to put themselves in danger, but if they are comfortable taking pictures of others misbehaving, then do so.
The rules of the Montour Trail can be found at montourtrail.org/visit/rules.