WATERLOO, Wis. (BRAIN) — Trek Bicycle announced Monday that all electric mountain bikes it sells will be class 1, be limited to 20 mph assisted speed, and will not have a throttle.
Other Trek e-bikes, for use on pavement or paths, will be either throttles or pedal-assist. Bikes with throttles will limit assistance to 20 mph and bike with pedal assist will be limited to 20 mph or 28 mph, depending on the model.
"These standards strike the right balance between delivering the benefits of electric bicycles, respecting shared spaces, and protecting the trails and paths riders depend on. Trek believes access to shared places to ride, including mountain bike trails, may be at risk because of the lack of responsible limits being upheld by manufacturers," the company said in a statement.
Trek President John Burke said, "As an industry, we’ve worked for decades to earn access to trails and bike paths.
"We’d rather lead with responsibility today than explain tomorrow why riders lost access to the places they love and to a sport that makes the world a better place."
In the statement, Trek said, "Trek believes products that rely on throttle power beyond 20mph or pedal-assist beyond 28mph are e-motos, should not be used on bike paths, and belong in a different regulatory category. It is an opportunity and a responsibility for the industry to establish thoughtful voluntary standards before access and safety challenges lead to broader restrictions."
