E-Bike policy development

Table of contents

1. Latest status, project overview, timeline and engagment
2. Phase 1: Project objectives
3. Phase 1: Current context and reality
4. Phase 1: Community scan and stakeholder interviews
5. Phase 2: Proposed policy directions – Valley Trail
6. Phase 2: Proposed policy directions – Off-road
7. Current e-bike regulations
8. Classification of e-bikes 

Latest status

Thank you to the 75 community members, who attended the March 2019 open house, and to the 584 respondents, who completed the feedback survey on draft policy directions for e-bike and other e-mobility device use on Whistler’s trails.

Download display materials from the open house.  

Staff have compiled feedback from the open house and online survey. 

• Review findings in the E-bike Policy Development Community Engagement Report

Based on feedback received, an e-bike policy or e-bike regulations will be developed in May and implemented this riding season, along with a monitoring program that will allow adjustments to be made as necessary in the future.

Overview

The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is currently leading a project with the Whistler Centre for Sustainability to develop policies or regulations for the use of e-mobility devices on the Valley Trail and local recreation off-road trails managed by the RMOW, Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA), and Recreation Sites and Trails BC (provincial Crown Lands) within the boundaries of the Cheakamus Community Forest.

Whistler Blackcomb and their Controlled Recreation Area (CRA) and BC Parks are outside of the geographic scope for this project, but staff are consulting with them to ensure alignment with policy directions.

The project began in fall 2018 and will be completed in spring 2019, with the goal of implementing policies for the 2019 riding season.

What’s an e-mobility device?

There are a wide range of e-mobility devices, which can use 100 per cent human power, 100 per cent motor, or a combination of both. These include:

• several classes of e-bikes
• e-adaptive mountain bikes (electric mountain bikes that are highly adapted for users with limited mobility in their limbs from spinal cord injuries or other disabilities)
• motorized wheelchairs and mobility scooters
• other personal mobility devices (e.g. e-scooters, e-skateboards, e-Segways and non-bike e-devices). 

Learn more about Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes.

Timeline and engagement

This 2018–2019 project includes five phases:

Phase 1 (winter 2018/19) - COMPLETE
This phase included development of project objectives, research and evaluation of e-bike policies in other communities and initial engagement and discussions with stakeholders.

Seventeen stakeholder interviews were conducted with organizations and groups including Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA), Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE), Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Adaptive Sports, Trials 99, Whistler Search and Rescue, Recreation Sites and Trails BC, BC Parks, and the Mature Action Committee, Forest and Wildland Advisory Committee, Recreation and Leisure Advisory Committee, and local businesses

Phase 2 (February to April 2019) - COMPLETE
Development of draft policy directions; staff, public and stakeholder engagement.

• A community open house took place on March 13, 2019. Download the display materials.
• A survey was available online until March 31.

Phase 3 (May to June 2019) – development of policy or regulations

Phase 4 (June 2019 onwards) – implementation and public communication

Phase 5 (Ongoing) – monitoring and evaluation