Growing Your Trail Organization and Your Community Impact
Electric mountain bikes (eMTBs) are no longer emerging, they’re here and they’re reshaping the trail landscape in real time. As e-bikes, and increasingly eMTBs, represent a growing share of bike sales nationwide, communities are navigating complex and evolving questions around access, policy, and land management.
At the same time, regulations are shifting. Federal guidance continues to evolve, states are adopting and adapting the three-class system, and local jurisdictions are taking varied approaches: some are expanding access, while others refine safety standards and enforcement.
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 our Government Affairs team 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. From emerging state-level policies like licensing requirements to evolving federal land management designations, you’ll gain the context and tools needed to navigate competing perspectives, community expectations, and future opportunities.
Join us in exploring the topic, and bring your questions and ideas regarding the future of eMTBs access on trails.
What you’ll Ride Away with:
By the end of this Leadership Lab, participants will be able to:
- Understand current federal regulatory landscape, including critical distinctions between tools for eMTB access to motorized and non motorized trails; as well as key state-level trends.
- Understand what fits within the three-class framework and how federal land managers interpret these categories.
- Identify approaches to utilizing existing examples to protect and gain trail access.
When: May 12, 2026 at 1PM MDT
Presented by:
Rachel Fussell, Senior Manager of Recreation Policy, People for Bikes
When she's not out exploring the Vermont backcountry on her mountain bike or splitboard, Rachel is hard at work managing PeopleForBikes’ recreation and eMTB initiatives. Her passion for the outdoors and all things bikes inspires her work as an advocate for anyone looking to enjoy the benefits of pushing pedals. Before joining our team, Rachel was the executive director of a mountain bike trail organization in Vermont, creating connections and bringing the community together to build and support biking opportunities.
Aaron Clark, Policy Manager - Government Affairs, IMBA
Aaron is a gearhead by birth and dropper-post lovin' weight-weenie by choice. Having discovered a lifelong love for all things bikes back in Detroit in the early 90's (aboard his fully rigid, budget-minded Nishiki Crossroads, no less) he began racing his bike all over the Michigan woods. This eventually led Aaron to Colorado and eventually to IMBA in 2012 where he works on backcountry mountain bike trail access, policy and legislation as part of the Government Relations team. In his little spare time, Aaron coaches cyclocross at a local high school. His best rides are with his wife and two boys who, after careful crafting, now share his love for riding.
Todd Keller, Director of Government Affairs, IMBA
Todd is a twenty-plus year veteran of public policy, legislative affairs, and issue campaigns, having worked with conservation non-profits, the renewable energy industry, and outdoor recreation organizations among others.Throughout his career he has worked to promote a healthy lifestyle by ensuring access to public lands, funding for outdoor recreation, and promoting cycling in all forms.
