[TRBHealth] Re: Proposed Rule-Making on Electric Bicycles

Hi Kelly, PeopleForBikes has a detailed website about the current regulations as well as guidance on comments: https://peopleforbikes.org/federal-e-bike-rulemaking/ They have an active communications campaign to encourage comments supporting the rule-making (pasted below). Hope this helps! Laura Sandt, PhD Director, Collaborative Sciences Center for Road Safety Director, Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center UNC Highway Safety Research Center 919-962-2358 (office) 512-590-9650 (cell) sandt@hsrc.unc.edu<mailto:sandt@hsrc.unc.edu> Correspondence from PeopleForBikes: ------------------ Many of the places we love to ride bikes on public lands are currently closed to electric bicycles (e-bikes) because of outdated laws governing how e-bikes are defined and managed. That could change for the better<https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX7… and we encourage you to speak up in support of e-bikes. In early April, the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation proposed new regulations<https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fd… ("rulemaking") regarding e-bike use on federal lands. If adopted, these proposed regulations would mean: * E-bikes would no longer be defined as motor vehicles or off-road vehicles, but have a standalone, sensible and modern definition. * The three classes of e-bikes would be properly defined. * E-bike riders would have similar rights, privileges and duties as traditional bike riders. * Agency officials would be authorized to allow e-bikes on roads, paths and trails where they are currently prohibited. * Local land managers would maintain significant control, in partnership with the public, to make access decisions. The public has until early June to comment on these proposed regulations. We encourage everyone to support this rulemaking and help improve access for e-bike riders around the country. [GET INVOLVED TO SUPPORT E-BIKES] Our federal e-bike rulemaking webpage<https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX… has all of the details on each agency's proposed e-bike regulations and guidance on how to submit comments. To make things easy, we drafted<https://u8232924.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=-2FQ23vsRKP4fdjLiX… pre-written comments for you to submit to each agency (each of the four agencies has a slightly different proposed rule and unique process for commenting). Consider customizing these comments with your own stories, data or anecdotes that are specific to your e-bike experience. The deadlines for comments fall between June 8 - 12, 2020. We'll be sure to send you a reminder before the final dates. From: Kelly Rodgers &lt;kelly(a)thinkstreetsmart.org&gt; Sent: Friday, April 17, 2020 10:33 AM To: TRB Health and Transportation &lt;trbhealth(a)mailman.chrispy.net&gt; Subject: [TRBHealth] Proposed Rule-Making on Electric Bicycles Has anyone heard about this or know of an organization that has evaluated these rules and can provide guidance for comments? The US Department of the Interior released several Notices of Proposed Rulemaking for relations of electric bicycles (e-bikes) under the following agencies. Comment deadlines vary for each agency, but are open until mid-June. For more information and to submit comment, visit the following links: · US Fish and Wildlife Service: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/07/2020-07167/...<https://www.… · National Park Service: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/08/2020-07163/...<https://www.… · Bureau of Land Management: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/10/2020-07099/...<https://www.… · Bureau of Reclamation: www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/13/2020-07213/...<https://www.… On Thu, Apr 16, 2020 at 8:13 AM Ed Christopher <edc@berwyned.com<mailto:edc@berwyned.com>> wrote: In an attempt to keep us up-to-date there is more news to report on the formation of the TRB health committee. The proposal for the committee that was submitted for the March deadline was accepted and the committee is being formed (the proposal is attached). The first order of business was for TRB to identify a committee chair. Leslie Meehan, TN Department of Public Health, and I (Ed Christopher, Independent Transportation Planning Consultant) have been nominated and accepted to serve as co-chairs. Tom Palmerlee and Gary Jenkins will serve as the TRB staff to the committee. The Committee with be organized under the Transportation and Society Section (AME00) which is part of the Sustainability & Resilience Group (AM000). Bill Anderson is the TRB staff to the Section and Group. Here is a link to the Current committee organizational chart. http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/dva/strategicalignment/TRBOrganization… Leslie and I had our first meeting yesterday with TRB staff and began discussing the tasks ahead. First on our plate will be to build the committee membership. This will be done incrementally over the next several weeks in consultation with TRB staff. More to come. Stay safe -- Ed Christopher Transportation Planning Consultant 708-269-5237 _______________________________________________ TRBHealth mailing list -- trbhealth@mailman.chrispy.net<mailto:trbhealth@mailman.chrispy.net> To unsubscribe send an email to trbhealth-leave@mailman.chrispy.net<mailto:trbhealth-leave@mailman.chrispy.net> -- Kelly Rodgers Executive Director, Streetsmart<http://welcome.thinkstreetsmart.org/> kelly@thinkstreetsmart.org<mailto:kelly@thinkstreetsmart.org> 503.442.7165 Portland, OR Please note I am working in Pacific Standard Time.