ebike

getting mixed information on ebike, we have a level 2 ebike ( with throttle) are they permitted on the trail?

No, only Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on the Mickelson Trail. The South Dakoto legislature passed a law prohibiting all other e-bikes. You can read the details here:

https://kbhbradio.com/house-passes-bill-limiting-mickelson-trail-to-class-1-e-bikes/

The governor signed the bill a month after the House passed it.

https://kbhbradio.com/rhoden-signs-bills-including-school-cash-mandate-mickelson-trail-e-bike-limitation-911-surcharge/

Violations would fall under the state’s lowest class of misdemeanors, punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The state law says only level 1. There are sings at each trail head that state “only level one”. I would love to say obey the laws but I ride the trail every week, just road 70 mile yesterday. There is no one checking and I have never had an issue with anyone on an e-bike. There are problems in town but not on the trail. Those of us on gravel bikes are always going faster than the e-bikes. Go for it! The only safety issue on the trail are joggers with earbuds and dogs not on a leash.

Yeah, "GO FOR IT" sounds like great advice until you accidentally run over a child and/or hurt someone with your ILLEGAL bike.  Then I'm sure Pat will help you pay for the lawyer you will surely need...especially after you've ignored all the posted signs.

I say all this because I was injured on the trail by two e-bikers (Class 2 btw) and wound up at the emergency room in Rapid City because the urgent care facility in Hill City was closed.  

Yeah, I'm jaded because the injuries I acquired are still with me six years later and will never go away along with the scars to my neck and face.  The fact that my bike required $1000 in repairs was just icing on the cake.

GO FOR IT.  Hell, why do we even need any laws?  It's Thunderdome out there.  Just do whatever makes YOU happy.  Forget the consequences to others and especially to some young child you run over with your 70# e-bike. 

Sorry for the rant.  I didn't sue the last time.  I won't make that mistake again. 

Wait?  What?  Pat from Spearfish won't help you pay for the lawyer you WILL need.  Who could have guessed that?

I am sorry that you had a bad accident, but the Facts remain, e-bike accidents on the trail, though not tracked are listed by local authorities as “very rare”. If we keep banning every thing that can possibly harm us we won’t have a trail. There are barely enough people using the trail now to justify its costs. This law has hurt local rentals and eliminated many people from the trail. I have ridden the trail atleast 40 times a year for the past 25 years and the only accidents I have witness have been caused by dogs. And small children. I don’t think we need to ban either.

I DO APOLOGIZE for taking out my rant on you.  I know you were just trying to give some friendly advice.  So, excuse me for my bad behavior. 

It's like I get triggered when I hear about Class 2 or 3 e-bikes on the trail, HAHA. 

Accidents are "very rare" UNTIL they happen to you, or maybe someone you care about.

I worry that we are fast becoming a "ME, ME, ME" society regardless of what laws are passed.  When I choose only the laws I will obey and you choose only to obey the laws you like, chaos is the ultimate result.  

I'm assuming the South Dakota legislature passed the bill, and the governor signed it based upon evidence and good reasoning. 

If we don't like a law, we should work to change it...not ignore it at the possible risk to others. 

As to "I don't think we need to ban dogs and small children..."  Okay, but the current law DOES ban Class 2 and 3 e-bikes.  That's the difference.  Work to change the law if you feel it needs to be changed.

I will admit that my EXTREME BIAS is due to the accident I had.  All the medical bills and deductibles were on me and my insurance.  Why?  Because the two twenty-somethings that ran over me wouldn't even stop to help me even though they saw the condition I was in.  Blood streaming down my face with my bike in pieces.  Cuts to both sides of my face with scars that won't go away.  (Had I not been wearing a helmet, the injuries probably would have been even worse.) 

I didn't have a cell signal between Deadwood and Hill City, so I couldn't call for help. The few people I met on the trail didn't have cell service either.  Had to slowly walk my bike over 10 miles to Hill City.  Thankfully, it was mostly a downhill grade. When I got to Hill City, urgent care was closing and they told me I needed to drive myself 30 miles to Rapid City.

The effects are still with me in many ways.  My neck has never healed to where I feel like riding more than a few miles, let alone go bikepacking.  I also enjoyed hiking in the Sierras and the injury to my back doesn't allow that.

I probably need to remove myself from these Mickelson Trail alerts!  This topic comes up EVERY year, and I rant about it EVERY year.  Since I'll probably never be able to ride the trail again, I get triggered for no reason.

But I do worry about other people (especially seniors and young children) getting run over by 70# e-bikes with a 200# rider going 25-30mph.  I'm not a scientist, but that math sounds like a recipe for serious injury.

You don't need to reply.  We'll just have to agree to friendly disagree on Class 2 and 3 e-bikes on the trail.  I will say if they aren't going to patrol the trail and enforce the law as it is currently written, they should just repeal the law.

The only advice I would give anyone is that if you do choose to ignore the law and all the posted signs...and you injure someone...well, personal injury lawyers like to make money. Lots of it.

All the best to you.  Stay safe out there. I do hope I get to ride the trail once more before I die.

Mark, I hope you will continue to share your story on the forum. Though I don’t care for the law it is still important that people are aware of risks. It is never a bad idea to share safety concerns. I do hope you can have a more complete recovery, and I hope you come out to the Black Hills again. We have great fishing too.

Mark,

Sorry you had that experience. I have a class 2 ebike that cannot exceed 19.8 MPH when using the throttle. That said I have had non-electric bike pass me going much faster than that and without given any notice they were coming up from behind. I have a friend that has a class 2 three-wheel bike because they have MS but like going on the trails. Those too are set not to exceed 19.8 mph but I rarely see him over 8mph. To me its a shame there are no exceptions for handicap people like that. I understand the safety needs on the trail but every person using the trails should keep safety in mind whether you are walking it or riding it. I would also like to remind people when riding it on any bike to let people you are approaching that you will be coming up on their left. People with pets please use leashes. I hate getting bit by startled unleased dogs. It is just commonsense folks.

My Wife and I have class II ebikes (Max 20 MPH) and have rode the Mickelson back in 2023 without issue. We were going to hit the trail again in a few weeks on our way to yellowstone but will probably have to bypass the trail with this new law and stop somewhere else. I have MS and wife is going on her second hip replacement so these bikes have been a game changer and have allowed us to bike thousands of miles in the past few years. On the trail we average 10-12 Mph and typically are just enjoying the scenery. We have been pushed off the trail by both inconsiderate ebikes and road bikes going too fast. So it really doesn't matter what you are riding just how safe and considerate you are. its really is a shame there are not exceptions for people with health issues or age consideration.

I'm replying to Jim from Oak Lawn. I agree with your sentiments about riding safely. The only thing I'd add is that the weight of e-bikes makes a big difference regarding the safety issue.

An electric bike typically weighs between 40 and 80 pounds (18 to 36 kg), depending on its components and design. Standard bicycles usually weigh significantly less, around 17 to 25 pounds (8 to 11 kg).

That 20# to 60# difference over my 22# Trek gravel bike along with the much larger tires on some e-bikes, does complicate the issue. I don't know how much the e-bikes that hit me weighed, but I know they were a lot heavier than my 22# bike. Factor in that much difference, the size of the rider, and the speeds they were going...well, I missed physics class that day, but I know it makes a difference.

That said, (A) I'm not worried about riders like you and your wife and (B) I wouldn't be opposed to exceptions for those with special needs. Maybe the legislature could look into that. Possibly a special permit for those who need the assistance of an electric bike.

I would hope something could be done to accommodate those like you to allow you to ride the trail. I just don't have the answer to that. Keep riding.

Thanks Mark, sorry about your accident and hope you do not have any lasting issues. Our bikes are not fat tire and are pretty light bc I am dragging a camper behind us and have to put them on the bed of the truck. That said being from St Louis I am guessing you ride the Katy trail we and finally finished it this year and absolutely love it. Its our goal to hit all of the hall of fame trails, we started over 3 years ago and have about 15 down and have a lot to go. I will need to consider just getting Class 1 bikes but the throttle has helped on some of the steeper hills and getting going from a stop especially crossing busy roads. Enjoy the ride !!

Hi Jim,
15 of the HOF trails? That's impressive. I hope to get there someday.

Yes, I've ridden the Katy Trail end to end several times. It is a beautiful trail. I've been wanting to ride the Trail of the Coeur D'Alenes and the Hiawatha Trail for many years and I'm hoping to get those done this fall. (I'm now retired, so more time to do these trails.)

I've ridden the American River Trail (AKA the Jedidiah Smith Trail) from Sacramento to Folsom following along the American River for parts of 32 miles. The area near downtown Sacramento is a little sketchy these days (it didn't use to be), but it's a trail worth riding. It's all paved and there are many access points away from downtown.

I'd also recommend the Rio Grande Trail from Aspen, CO 40 miles down to Glenwood Springs. It's all paved and it's mostly downhill if you start at Aspen at 8,000 and coast down to GS at 5,700 feet. A bus can take you and your bikes back up to Aspen for a very nominal cost.

And there is the Glenwood Canyon Trail 32 mostly flat miles roundtrip from Glenwood Springs (a town worth visiting) to Dotsero and back. It's paved and follows the Colorado River through the canyons. One of the most scenic trails I've ever ridden. I-70 is right beside the trail so it can be noisy through the canyon. Easy ride with your bikes (if you haven't already done that trail).

So many trails, so little time!

Have you looked into contacting the South Dakota Game, Fish, and Parks office to see if there are exceptions to the e-bike rule that might accommodate you? It might be worth a try. Here's the link:

https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/george-s--mickelson-trail/

Again, it might be worth asking.

All the best to you and your wife. Enjoy the ride.

The last time on Mickelson trail my wife ran into wall in tunnel B cutting her arm. No lighting in tunnel due to Parks management wanting to keep it rustic. About e-bikes, my max speed is 15 mph, trail riding is not a race. Walkers/runners/groups of people need to pay attention for riders and stay to the right of trail. The trail is also kept rustic by Parks department with a limestone surface which makes stopping any bike more difficult. So everyone should be respective of others and not let themselves be hurt. Most modern rail trails have been updated to asphalt and lighting when needed. Ride and walk safely. Enjoy together.

Sorry to hear your wife got hurt. I know I will after close one eye about 50 yards from the tunnel entrance so I can open that eye when I enter thew tunnel and have better night vision. I always worry about something being on the ground and not seeing it. As far as “rustic” it has to do with money. To pave this trail would cost a fortune, that means fees, people to collect fees, so more money. It is perfect how it is. Lighting on solar charges for the tunnels might be a great upgrade. I will suggest that to our local representatives.