2026 is the Chinese Zodiac “Year of the Fire Horse.” Fittingly, it doesn’t take much of an imagination to connect a “Fire Horse” with an “electric bicycle.” A Fire Horse symbolizes intense energy, freedom, passion, and rapid transformation which is exactly what we are seeing in the evolution of e-bikes and eMTBs.

That same energy is driving increasingly heated conversations. The freedom e-bikes provide has sparked passionate debate around access, safety, enforcement, and resource impacts. Those conversations are reaching a tipping point. In fall of 2025, after seeing various draft legislation or concepts circulated around the country, we predicted 2026 would be the year of the e-bike legislation and that's proving accurate. Communities are navigating complex and evolving questions around access, policy, and land management.

As a result, bike industry veterans are penning open letters, and industry associations are crafting policy toolkits to encourage model legislation to disassociate e-bikes from e-motorcycles.

At IMBA, we continue to advocate for expanding class 1 eMTB access to non-motorized trails when conducted through a public process with stakeholder engagement, particularly on federal lands where our expertise is strongest and most effective. This approach is where we can help improve consistency, compliance, and enforcement. At the same time, we recognize the challenges of operating within the current fragmented and inconsistent regulatory landscape. For example, some agencies and jurisdictions define the 3-class system of e-bikes as motorized vehicles while others define them as bicycles. Even what constitutes an e-bike versus an e-motorcycle is largely undefined because technology moves faster than regulations.

States are actively grappling with unclear classifications and how to manage eMTBs. New Jersey and Utah have each passed bills in 2026 in attempts to address the issue:

• New Jersey's new onerous e-bike law (S4834/A6235), effective January 19, 2026, reclassifies all electric bicycles as "motorized bicycles," requiring registration, insurance, and a valid driver’s license for operation. Helmets are mandatory, and Class 3 e-bikes require specific NTA 8776 rated helmets.
• Utah’s HB 381, effective May 6, 2026, reinforces the three-class system by introducing stricter regulations and clarifying definitions. This includes formally incorporating programmable e-bikes, tightening power/speed thresholds, and explicitly distinguishing as motorcycles the higher-powered devices that have become prevalent. The bill also mandates safety courses for youth under 14 and requires helmets for riders under 21. 

The core challenge in managing e-bikes and eMTBs is that the technology continues to evolve faster than land managers have the ability to consistently define, identify, and enforce appropriate use. This undermines enforcement and erodes trust with land managers and other public stakeholders. The uncertainty informs a more cautious management response, which trends toward limiting access because land managers have neither the resources nor the clarity to manage evolving – and at times indistinguishable – technologies.

Furthermore, jurisdictional authorities are fragmented on eMTB access with no sign of assimilation. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management operate under different rules from one another as well as different rules than adjacent state and municipal lands. This inconsistency results in a growing tension — misuse by a small subset of riders can trigger broad restrictions that impact all bike access.

It appears the moment has come to attempt to reign in an arguably loose and broad technology, driven by a largely unregulated industry.

As such, IMBA is working to help define practical, durable approaches that allow for public input without creating processes so complex or costly that they stall progress altogether.

For trail organization leaders, the question isn’t whether eMTBs will impact your work, it’s how prepared you are to respond thoughtfully and effectively. Join us on Tuesday, May 12, for a timely and nuanced exploration of the eMTB regulatory landscape. This session will begin with a strategic overview of current developments at the federal, state, and local levels, followed by a candid panel discussion and open Q&A. Leaders will gain the context and tools needed to navigate competing perspectives, community expectations, and future opportunities.

IMBA webinar: Policy, Access, and the Future of eMTBs

IMBA remains committed to efficiently advancing our mission to create, enhance and protect great places to ride mountain bikes, including class 1 eMTBs. In 2026 and beyond we will continue to weigh in where it matters to help shape policy at the federal and state levels where they present opportunities to tame the flame of the Fire Horse.