The City of Coeur d’Alene is committed to ensuring that our trails and parks are safe and enjoyable for all users.  With the increasing popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes), we have received numerous inquiries about their use on city trails.  This article aims to address these questions by providing clear guidelines in line with state regulations.

Electric bikes are an amazing innovation, allowing people who may not normally be able to ride conventional bicycles the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.  However, there are valid concerns regarding the speed at which e-bikes travel and the potential danger they pose to other trail users.  The state of Idaho has ruled on what types of e-bikes are allowed on trails and what are not, but local municipalities can change or enhance these rules. The City of Coeur d’Alene has opted to follow the state’s ruling on our trails. In summary, e-bikes are allowed on all trails where mechanical bikes are allowed if they have pedals, but they must not be operated faster than 15 miles per hour. 

There are different classes of e-bikes with different speed capabilities, but regardless of what type of e-bike you have, the underlying issue is people going too fast and endangering others. E-bikes, and other e-equipment, give people the ability to easily exceed the speed limit on trails where other people are walking, pushing children in strollers, walking dogs, running, and otherwise recreating. Mixing people riding fast with these other users is dangerous. Almost all e-bikes can go faster than the posted 15 mph, that is the speed limit for all trail users. Speeding endangers others and speeders can be held liable for injuring other trail users. There are some people pushing to prohibit e-bikes so please be a good neighbor and ride your e-bikes responsibly to ensure the continued allowance of e-bikes on city trails.

The city has also observed the use of other electric equipment such as e-motorcycles (Surrons), e-scooters, e-mopeds, one wheeled skateboard, e-skateboards, etc. and it is important to note that these devices are NOT allowed on trails or in city parks. Flying through a park and tearing up the grass so you can jump the lip of the trail is not allowed. Our parks are not ATV/motorcycle parks. 

The Department of Justice has ruled that people with mobility related disabilities are allowed to use their motorized wheelchairs and wheeled mobility scooters on trails and sidewalks. Again, all trail users must obey the posted speed limit. 

The Idaho Panhandle National Forest on Canfield Mountain offers designated trails for off-road e-vehicles, including motorcycles.  Bike lanes on our city streets also allow e-bikes, including e-motorcycles (provided that they are licensed, registered and you have a driver’s license or are accompanied by an adult). In bike lanes, all users must follow the posted speed limit for vehicular traffic. So, if you find the trail speed limit too slow, use a bike lane.  A word of caution, riding anything other than your feet on a sidewalk is dangerous. Many cities ban bikes from sidewalks because they are seven times more likely to get hit by a car than in the street. Sidewalks are behind the line of sight of most drivers, and they are not looking for bikes when trying to merge with traffic or entering a driveway. The faster you go, the more dangerous it becomes, so riding your e-equipment on sidewalks is a bad idea. 

It is also crucial to remember that bikes of any kind, including pedal bikes, are prohibited on Tubbs Hill or in the Fernan Natural Park to preserve these areas for hikers. The Canfield Natural Park/Cancourse is the only natural park in Coeur d’Alene where both bikes and e-bikes are allowed, though e-motorcycles are not permitted.

To report violations, please call the non-emergency police department at 208-769-2320. The Parks Department is not an enforcement agency and cannot enforce City code. Should you have further questions or concerns regarding these issues, please contact the City of Coeur d’Alene Trails office at 208-292-5766 or via email at [email protected] ###