Did you miss me?

[Al Boneta]

I know there were more than a few of you that don’t.
Getting my daughter ready for University has been taking up my time and there were some new developments in our local land access battle.
Recently an new ordinance passed in my home county

So while I have been greedy riding trails I didn’t really have any permission to use, this recent development is going to make it almost impossible to ride my local trails.
I will now have to drive over 45 minutes to ride a legal trail.
Not to mention the impact this will have on my shop.
After spending an entire day looking for a local Emtb advocacy group, I discovered there isn’t one.
Looks like it will fall to me

Almost forgot. The reason for the outright ban?
Fire Hazard

 

[Dusty]

Almost forgot. The reason for the outright ban?
Fire Hazard

Sounds like that's the only excuse they could find.

 

[Stumpy]

I know there were more than a few of you that don’t.
Getting my daughter ready for University has been taking up my time and there were some new developments in our local land access battle.
Recently an new ordinance passed in my home county
View attachment 4388
So while I have been greedy riding trails I didn’t really have any permission to use, this recent development is going to make it almost impossible to ride my local trails.
I will now have to drive over 45 minutes to ride a legal trail.
Not to mention the impact this will have on my shop.
After spending an entire day looking for a local Emtb advocacy group, I discovered there isn’t one.
Looks like it will fall to me

Almost forgot. The reason for the outright ban?
Fire Hazard

That’s shit - feel for you Al!

And yes, we’ve missed you.

 

[mark.ai]

That's bad news

Has anyone ever heard of any EMTB ever bursting into flame? (Well maybe with home made DIY kits it's possible.)

Whereas mobile phones … are they being banned from your trails too?!

 

[DaveMatthews]

Fire hazard?
You mean like drive a nail through a LiPo hazard?
Do they think that sparks fly out of the motor?

 

[levity]

Al Boneta - Of course, we've missed both your reverence and your irreverence!

And yes, I've heard that they're starting to enforce restrictions at our Orange County Parks. Some nice terrain, in addition to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Irvine Open Space Preserve, is now "officially" off-limits. However, as you know Crystal Cove and Chino Hills State Parks both currently allow Ebikes. The Santa Ana Mtns also have routes designated as "motorized roads" (at least the parts that haven't recently burned!). While they're not just our your back door, they do provide some nice trail options about 20 min away.

In any case, this is indeed sad news for those who ride Emtbs locally and the businesses that sell them. I'd be glad to help with any advocacy actions that you get going, and I'm sure there are other local riders who would also want to participate. Let me know how I can help.

FYI, there's an interesting thread on, cough cough, another forum that provides an example of how someone in Northern California is promoting Ebike advocacy:

E-Bike advocacy in the Bay Area, California- Mtbr.com

 

[Al Boneta]

Al Boneta - Of course, we've missed both your reverence and your irreverence!

And yes, I've heard that they're starting to enforce restrictions at our Orange County Parks. Some nice terrain, in addition to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Irvine Open Space Preserve, is now "officially" off-limits. However, as you know Crystal Cove and Chino Hills State Parks both currently allow Ebikes. The Santa Ana Mtns also have routes designated as "motorized roads" (at least the parts that haven't recently burned!). While they're not just our your back door, they do provide some nice trail options about 20 min away.

In any case, this is indeed sad news for those who ride Emtbs locally and the businesses that sell them. I'd be glad to help with any advocacy actions that you get going, and I'm sure there are other local riders who would also want to participate. Let me know how I can help.

FYI, there's an interesting thread on, cough cough, another forum that provides an example of how someone in Northern California is promoting Ebike advocacy:

E-Bike advocacy in the Bay Area, California- Mtbr.com

I just started the Orange County Emtb Alliance Network on Facebook.

 

[Bigbarper]

Good luck I hope you are able to re educate the necessary people and over turn those restrictions.
For some inspiration check out how the Miami Beach Kitesurfers got organised and managed to recently prevent a ban on their local patch.

 

[Bigbarper]

Miami Beach kiteboarders and sunbathers are locked in bitter conflict ...

 

[Donnie797]

that really sucks!
For your shop as well - but maybe you can specialize in stealth e-mbt's, making them even more stealth... with selling black tape or some better solutions

 

[Krisj]

That totally sucks dude.
This e-bike prejudice is really pissing me off now.
Any one would think we were ripping through trails on CRF 450 dirt bikes with flames spitting out of the exhaust.
Ive rode dirt bikes most of my life and I’ve had to deal with this kind of prejudice constantly. So at the ripe old age of 47 I discovered E-bikes my passion for riding was back and has taken a whole new meaning now , I can still have the adrenaline fuelled days out but this time I thought I was safe, surely no one could be upset with me riding a bicycle ?
How wrong was I.
E-bikes are Just pedal bikes for god sake that give you the little assistance needed to take mountain biking to a whole new level. People of all ages and skill sets are now been able to experience the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and the feeling of been free. Why all the controversy regarding e-bikes , positive’s are
: They can improve people’s overall health.
: They cause no pollution
: People of all ages can enjoy them.
: You can enjoy longer rides and explore new terrain
: They are Totally safe , no flames ?
: They are just another PEDAL BIKE it’s that simple.
I wish all the governments and authorities would get a grip (BACK OFF ) and just let people ride and enjoy one of the greatest inventions of this planet the simple Bicycle
There’s much move pressing issues to address in this failing world of ours like famine ,homelessness ,war, the destruction of this wonderful planet are to name a few.
I hope the future stays bright for e-bikes and people will start educating themselves before passing judgement on something so great.
Good luck AL Keep fighting to save your trails and your shop.
Ride , smile and peace to all cyclists all over the world.??

 

[Norange]

What are the penalties? In the UK, no bikes are allowed on tracks classed as footpaths. Have always ignored this because it's ridiculous. Prefer to follow the "leave no trace, don't ride like a twat" ethos. Having said that, I don't live in an area like the Lakes where there could be more conflict. Here, public access for walkers was gained by mass trespass, don't see my approach as very different to that really.

 

[Slowroller]

Fire Hazard? That's a stretch.....

 

[Halcon]

That sucks man. Leave over-regulated CA and come to Texas, the only restriction here is 750w motor and 20mph. If you need signatures post it on this site all everyone who can sign will.

 

[davosaurusrex]

Bad news Al, that sucks. Land of the free my arse!

 

[Labrador29]

That totally sucks dude.
This e-bike prejudice is really pissing me off now.
Any one would think we were ripping through trails on CRF 450 dirt bikes with flames spitting out of the exhaust.
Ive rode dirt bikes most of my life and I’ve had to deal with this kind of prejudice constantly. So at the ripe old age of 47 I discovered E-bikes my passion for riding was back and has taken a whole new meaning now , I can still have the adrenaline fuelled days out but this time I thought I was safe, surely no one could be upset with me riding a bicycle ?
How wrong was I.
E-bikes are Just pedal bikes for god sake that give you the little assistance needed to take mountain biking to a whole new level. People of all ages and skill sets are now been able to experience the great outdoors and enjoy the fresh air and the feeling of been free. Why all the controversy regarding e-bikes , positive’s are
: They can improve people’s overall health.
: They cause no pollution
: People of all ages can enjoy them.
: You can enjoy longer rides and explore new terrain
: They are Totally safe , no flames ?
: They are just another PEDAL BIKE it’s that simple.
I wish all the governments and authorities would get a grip (BACK OFF ) and just let people ride and enjoy one of the greatest inventions of this planet the simple Bicycle
There’s much move pressing issues to address in this failing world of ours like famine ,homelessness ,war, the destruction of this wonderful planet are to name a few.
I hope the future stays bright for e-bikes and people will start educating themselves before passing judgement on something so great.
Good luck AL Keep fighting to save your trails and your shop.
Ride , smile and peace to all cyclists all over the world.??

Well spoken.
I feel I should add my story to the cause.
I'm a 76 year old New Zealander who played active sport all my life. Rugby/tennis/golf/athletics and in later years, road cycling and mountain biking.
In 2003 at the age of 57 I had a heart attack, and heart surgery and a stent followed. I was told I had coronary artery disease (CAD), a hereditary problem on my mother's side.
Some years later I had a 2nd angiogram which revealed my CAD had worsened and there was nothing else that could be done for me other than aggressive medication. The Heart Specialist knew that I was a keen mountain biker, and advised me to keep off the local hilly mtb tracks as it placed too much pressure on the heart. He then added, "if you get an e-mtb, you can still ride the hills, but keep your heart rate down to twice your resting pulse rate".
I purchased a Garmin HRM belt which now connects to my 2022 Giant Trance software.
Why I am telling this story, which I often repeat, is to get through to the authorities that by encouraging cycling, they are keeping people alive.
My Heart Specialist now tells me, that if I keep doing what I am doing, I will die with my condition, rather than from it
I am coming up 77 and feel like a teenager when I am out on my Giant.
PS: one of my riding mates is 85 years old, and still a bloody good rider.
Hope that all makes sense fellow mtb'ers!!!!!.