Local business educates on appropriate use
Ron Thomas came out of his orange and turquoise warehouse on Friday with a big smile— he’s standing outside the Pedego e-bike dealership. Behind him are a fleet of e-bikes that range from kid to adult sizes, classes 1 through 3, cargo to mountain bike types, and even a few “tail wagons” and “bark rangers”—for carting around furry friends. These bikes are powered by batteries that offer a pedal-assist– allowing riders to travel faster and farther, according to Thomas, who said, “They are the great equalizer.”
His first foray into e-bikes was due to his mom, whose use of e-bikes changed her life, according to Thomas. Inspired, and seeing an open market, he opened Pedego Moab in August of 2021. For two and a half years, he has navigated the world of electronic bikes, both professionally and recreationally. For Thomas, this work is about getting more people out on bikes, especially those that otherwise would not consider going bike riding. He cites the potential health benefits from people choosing to bike, as well as riding further and more often than if they were not electrified. This notion is supported in a study that reported the mental and physical benefits of using e-bikes for obese Australians.
Furthermore, the versatility and usefulness of the e-bikes for carting around toddlers and groceries led Thomas to claim that the invention of e-bikes would wipe out other motorized transportation. “We would have never had a minivan in town,” he joked.
While the topic of e-bikes might raise some lively conversations in town—from concerns of volume of bikes on the bike path, unruly speeds and illegal use on trails designated for non-motorized use—Thomas hopes to educate users on safe and responsible uses. He details a route through town using the bike path where users must keep speeds under 15 mph on Class 1 bikes. On the bike path north of Lin’s Rock Shop, riders can zoom up to 20 mph. On the road, bikers must go with the flow of traffic. While some bikes he rents and sells have the option for throttle (Class 2 and 3)—which eliminates the need to pedal, making them essentially a scooter—it is easily disabled in order to stay within regulations.
The Discover Moab website offers a detailed description of the current rules and regulations of e-bikes on trails in Moab, courtesy of Moab Trail Mix. While it’s important to understand the designation of each trail in order to determine if e-bikes are allowed—which changes depending on who manages the land (the Bureau of Land Management, Moab City, Grand County, the US Forest Service, the National Park Service or Utah State Parks) and depends on the type of bike (class 1, 2 or 3). More simply, e-bikes are not allowed on any trails that are designated as non-motorized. Violation can result in a Class B misdemeanor, $1,000 fine and six-month jail sentence. However, the Moab Police Department has not issued any citations for illegal use of an e-bike in the past 24 months, according to Administrative Sergeant Scott Finlayson.
Mountain bike-style e-bikes lead to further discussions. Trails constructed on BLM land under the agency’s Resource Management Plan are ear-marked for non-motorized travel. Therefore, no e-bikes are allowed on these trails, so Thomas directs clients to the over 1,000+ miles of nearby jeep trails. However, he mentioned that a petition to the BLM field office may allow users with disabilities to gain permits for use of e-bikes on BLM single-track trails.
For an off-road experience, Thomas directs riders to Flat Iron Mesa, Seven-Mile Rim, and Poison Spider Mesa, and the Slickrock Bike Trail in Sand Flats—all motorized trails.
After navigating the bike trails in town, we ventured down Potash Road to Jughandle arch, stopping to gaze at the petroglyphs, jumping in the river, and picking mulberries. After 42 miles, we returned with 30% battery. Thomas generally advises renters to stay within 30 miles in one day for an average user to make sure they come back with charge (the bikes are quite heavy and would be difficult to ride without power). At the end of an enjoyable day, we returned with what Thomas called “ the Pedego smile.”
“Everyone can ride with anyone,” Thomas reiterated, citing the many cases of happy clients that are able to fulfill their biking needs with an e-bike. Most of his clientele are older and benefit from the increased advantage of the electric boost. It also helps two riders of various fitness levels to ride at the same speed. While purchasing your own can cost as much as $4,000, a range of models and styles are available to rent.
In addition to rentals, the company offers beginner, intermediate, and advanced tours that allow riders to see more of Moab in less time than walking and more intimately than driving. A tour to the Spanish Valley winery is one of Thomas’s favorite routes.
To rent an e-bike for Pedego Moab, visit https://pedegoelectricbikes.com/dealers/moab/ or stop in form 9-5 at the store: 1076 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532
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