E-Bike Etiquette. It's a Mammoth Thing.

August 15, 2024

At 8,000 feet, Mammoth Lakes can take your breath away. If you find yourself biking around town and feel like you would love a little extra oomph in your pedal, consider bringing along your e-bike or renting one from one of the many bike shops in town.

An electric bike or e-bike is a bike with an electric motor that can assist with, or replace, pedaling. It’s a great way to get out and enjoy the unreal beauty of the area. But with much electrical-fueled pedal power comes much responsibility. It’s on your electrified cycling self to ride responsibly and make sure you — and those around you — are safe.

Code-compliant E-bikes

E-biking is allowed in Mammoth Lakes with some restrictions that are based on the type of e-bike you have and where you are planning to ride. Remember that e-bikes are motorized vehicles so proper etiquette is a must in order to keep all of our outdoor enthusiasts safe. It's a Mammoth Thing and just one more way we are working to keep this place completely unreal.

In Mammoth Lakes, a code-compliant e-bike is defined as an unmodified bicycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts/1 horsepower.

Code-compliant e-bikes are allowed on roads and streets in Mammoth Lakes, but you must follow the same laws as cars.

Code-compliant e-bikes are allowed on Inyo National Forest off highway vehicle (OHV) routes and roads included on USFS Motor Vehicle Use Maps.

Code-compliant e-bikes are allowed on all paved multi-use pathways (Examples: Paved two-lane pathways around town such as the Lakes Basin Path and the Town Loop), as well as in the Mammoth Mountain Bike Park, a fee-based facility.

boy and man on e-bikes on path in forest

Where to E-bike and Path Etiquette

E-bikes are NOT permitted on any trail designated as non-motorized. (Examples: Mammoth Rock Trail, Mountain View Trail, Panorama Dome, Horseshoe Lake Loop, Duck Pass Trail, Mammoth Pass Trail.)

In addition to understanding where you can ride, it is also important to follow e-bike etiquette when out on paths. As you can imagine, e-bikes have the potential to move more quickly than traditional bikes as well as other users on multi-use paths such as dog walkers and joggers. This means you are responsible for letting others know you are coming and for paying attention and yielding to other individuals out recreating. You are more like a car than a recreational user so you must yield to other pedestrians.

paved recreation path in forest with signage

Recreate responsibly by:

  • Riding responsibly – Respect all speed regulations and recommendations, and ride within your limits. This is not a race zone! The speed limit for e-bikes on trails and paths is 15 mph.
  • Always staying on the right-hand side of the road or path – Pass on the left, and announce yourself with a friendly greeting or the ring of a bike bell.
  • Yielding appropriately – Let your fellow users know you’re coming and beware of blind turns! Anticipate other users as you ride around corners. E-bike users should yield to all non-motorized users, regardless of the direction they are traveling.
  • Planning ahead – Know your equipment, your ability and the area in which you are riding and prepare accordingly.
  • Leaving no trace – Pack out at least as much as you pack in and pick up after your pets. Stay on existing roads.
  • Considering other riding options when roads and trails are soft or wet, as they can be easily damaged and rutted.
  • Never surprising animals – An unannounced approach, a sudden movement or a loud noise easily startles animals, including horses, cattle and dogs. Give animals enough room and time to adjust to you.
  • Respecting motorized/non-motorized trail use regulations – Check in with the Mammoth Lakes Trail System for clarification if you are uncertain about the status of a trail. Make sure to review the Town's new e-bike ordinance.
  • Knowing that riders and passengers under 18 years old must wear helmets (CA State Law).
  • Understanding that all bikes must follow the same laws as cars when riding on the streets and roads.

Our Final E-Biking Tips

Remember that e-bike batteries can run out of juice! Keep track of how much battery you have left so you don’t get stuck pedaling a super heavy bike somewhere.

Lastly, if you see this symbol at a trailhead, e-bikes are NOT permitted and violations are punishable.

electronic bikes not allowed icon sign

Click here to learn more about biking in Mammoth Lakes as well as where to rent equipment.

Help Keep Mammoth Lakes Unreal

It’s a Mammoth Thing
Welcome to Mammoth Lakes, where caring for our environment is woven into our very identity. Here, sustainability isn't just a practice—it is a way of life, "It’s a Mammoth Thing!"
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Author
Lara Kaylor
Lara Kaylor is an outdoor enthusiast who gets her thrills from big time recreation in Mammoth Lakes where she resides with her husband and daughter. An award-winning journalist, Lara has been writing about all things Eastern Sierra since 2003.
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