Park City Police Try to Solve E-Bike Problems as Complaints and Injuries Rise

PARK CITY — After a near-fatal e-bike accident in Park City and numerous other problems, Park City Police say most people don’t know or understand e-bike rules.

“Some of these bikes can go a lot faster than the average bike,” said Lt. Jay Randall of the Park City Police Department.

Visitors to Park City choose e-bikes to explore the mountains and hiking trails.

“What we’re seeing is poor hiking etiquette: people signaling that they’re coming at you at high speed,” Randall said.

E-bikes are not allowed on single trails in Park City. HoweverPolice and trail rangers spend a lot of time resolving conflicts there. Worse still, they react to serious accidents.

“And we’re concerned that if they continue to drive these things, they’re going to get faster and heavier,” Randall said. “The possibility of serious injury or death is becoming a reality.”

E-motorcycles are causing the most concern

Randall said their biggest concern is electric motorcycles.

“Some of these electric motorcycles can go over 80 km/h,” he said. “If you do that on a 1.20-meter-wide path, people have no chance to react.”

In addition, Randall says, many of these electric motorcycles do not have Pedals attachedconverted into a crank.

Although they are not considered bicycles, many e-bikes are not registered, according to Randall.

“They’re like off-road vehicles,” he said. “They have to have indicators, lights, a speedometer and everything, and be insured to be able to drive on any road, public road.”

Even more worrying, according to Randall, is the age of the drivers.

“That’s the problem we’re running into because we have young kids, 12 to 15 years old, riding them down the street and thinking it’s OK,” he said.

Randall said they often race through the streets at around 40 miles per hour without helmets. Police Hope to get it under control before someone gets hurt.

“We are concerned about serious injuries and that is why we need to address this now,” Randall said.

The police ask parents to take a close look at the e-bikes before letting their children ride them.