BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — Summit County has a 90-km asphalt trail that connects most of the county's six towns with a link also to Copper Mountain and to Vail. It's wonderful for bicycling—but not, so far, for e-bikes.
County officials and Breckenridge both planned to begin allowing those e-bikes that operate only when the rider is pedaling and the motor cuts out when the e-bike reaches speeds of 32 kilometres per hour or greater. Another class of e-bikes has motors that are controlled by throttles and assist riders regardless of whether the rider is pedaling or not. Those, however, will not be allowed.
Clearing the way for the new policy was a new state law in 2017 that permits both classes of e-bikes onto pedestrian pathways where bicycles are also allowed. But the law gave final say to local jurisdictions.
That same path connects to Cooper Mountain and a trail across Vail Pass. Vail has been allowing use of e-bikes, both kinds, on its pathways since early 2018. However, it does not allow e-bikes that go up to 45 km/h. It's possible to then continue down valley on a dedicated bike/pedestrian trail hewing to the Eagle River and then at Dotsero, the Colorado River to Glenwood Springs.
