Bike Month is nearly over and Memorial Day has come and gone, marking the unofficial start of summer. As days lengthen and temperatures increase, so do opportunities for Sacramentans to enjoy the area\u2019s extensive network of multiuse trails.<\/p>\n
But the landscape is changing on the region\u2019s beloved American River Parkway. Over the past few years, Sacramento-area trails, including sections of the 32-mile parkway, have been host to a new trend: the use of modified e-bikes and e-motos. The powerful two-wheelers are hitting the pavement, trails and protected natural areas.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s allowed for e-bikes on the American River Parkway?<\/p>\n
E-bikes come in three categories: class 1, class 2 and class 3. Typically, class 1 and class 2 e-bikes stop assisting the rider when the speed reaches 20 mph. In contrast, class 3 e-bikes stop assisting the rider at 28 mph. E-motos are two-wheeled electric mobility devices that act more like traditional motorcycles, have more powerful motors than e-bikes and can reach speeds well over 30 mph. E-bikes can also be illegally modified to assist riders at speeds that exceed their factory settings.<\/p>\n
Class 1 and class 2 e-bikes are permitted on the American River Parkway as long as riders adhere to the 15 mph speed limit, but class 3 e-bikes and e-motos are prohibited. Exceeding speed limits on trails, whether on e-bikes, e-motos or nonmotorized bicycles, is illegal and causes safety hazards for trail users.<\/p>\n
Sacramento County Regional Parks rangers enforce the speed limit on the American River Parkway by pacing bike riders with their marked SUVs and trucks and monitoring their own speedometers. <\/p>\n
When rangers observe speeders, they typically issue a ticket or educate the rider on the rules. High-speed e-motos pose a challenge to rangers when e-moto riders speed off to avoid enforcement, as it is sometimes unsafe for rangers to pursue them in a truck or SUV.<\/p>\n
Recently, rangers have started using utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) to patrol areas of the parkway not easily accessible by truck or SUV.<\/p>\n
Unauthorized courses and vandalism on the trail<\/p>\n
Protected areas of the American River Parkway have been disturbed and vandalized to create jumps and unauthorized bicycle courses. The courses often include blind turns which, combined with the high speed of e-bikes and e-motos, can result in collisions with cyclists, equestrian riders and pedestrians that can cause severe injury. Parks maintenance staff spend extra time and resources restoring areas where the landscape has been disturbed and excavated to create jumps and courses, they told Abridged.<\/p>\n
![\"Cyclist\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC00031-1024x576.jpg.webp\")
A cyclist passes through the Cal Expo portion of the American River Parkway on May 5, 2026. (Martin Christian) <\/p>\n
George Tzikas, a Sacramento County Regional Parks ranger, has seen the change brought by modified e-bikes and e-motos firsthand, specifically near the raft takeout area at River Bend Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a little walking trail that leads off into the bush, and you\u2019ll see the remnants [of the bike jumps],\u201d Tzikas said. \u201cOur maintenance crews are out there all the time fixing what they make.\u201d<\/p>\n
County ordinance changes<\/p>\n
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors on May 12 adopted a set of ordinance changes, originally recommended by Sacramento County Regional Parks, intended to preserve the integrity of the American River Parkway by addressing the impacts of high-speed modified e-bikes and e-motos, including vandalism and unauthorized excavation activities. The ordinance changes go into effect on June 12.<\/p>\n
The update increases the penalty from an infraction to a potential\u00a0misdemeanor. Misdemeanors can result in fines, probation and possibly jail time.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt kind of gives the rangers more teeth that we can use to enforce and keep the natural parkway as is,\u201d Tzikas said. <\/p>\n
Another update to the ordinance allows the county to seek restitution for trail restoration, Tzikas added.<\/p>\n
Rangers tend to see an uptick in e-bike and e-moto issues outside of school hours. Tzikas urged parents to educate themselves and their children on the nuances of e-bikes and e-motos. <\/p>\n
\u201cDo your research as a parent,\u201d Tzikas said. \u201cIf your kid comes to you wanting to buy an electric motorcycle or an electric bike, really look at what they\u2019re trying to get you to buy, make sure it\u2019s legal for them as a rider and for where they want to ride it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_6202-1024x768.jpeg.webp\")
American River Parkway Bike Patrol Public Information Officer Vic Massenkoff and Sacramento County Regional Parks Ranger George Tzikas pose with the vehicles they use to patrol local trails. (Andrew Spittler)<\/p>\n