Electric Bikes Permitted on Trails

Disabled people will be permitted to use low-powered electric bicycles on much of the Great Allegheny Passage hiking and biking trail under new rules that were approved on Wednesday.

The Regional Trail Corp. board moved to comply with a federal mandate designed to make it easier for disabled people to use recreational trails. In addition to continuing to allow wheelchairs, the new rules permit electric bikes powered by no more than 250 watts, weighing less than 100 pounds, less than 36 inches wide with pedals that can be manually operated.

Those types of bikes generally are rated at a top speed of 15 mph, which is the limit on the trail.

Motorized vehicles with internal combustion engines or without manual pedaling capability will continue to be banned. That includes Segways.

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