Copy of our letter today to Craig Sap Superintendent of Angeles District Parks.

Also we have a copy of the new ordnance prohibiting E-bikes (the byway exception) and most important Orange County DOJ Rule for ADA on our Facebook page. It shows access the exceptions to OC Parks Ban on E-bikes based on ADA. I have to think that many older riders will qualify. Print a copy highlight the key points and carry it with you on your rides.  Be sure follow/like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/emtbassociation/

Be sure to support and  join https://www.electricmountainbikeassociation.org/ to extend your voice beyond Angeles District Parks. We need your donations, we have accounting, CA taxes and and other operational costs coming up that needs to be paid to continue this fight. 

Thank you for your support. Enjoy the following reading, as I am sure that your enjoyment will be Superintendent Craig Sap displeasure. 

"Hi Craig,

I wanted to touch bases with you to let you know that we now have 2700 signatures and supporters of our petition. In addition we now have 550 members.

Thank you for forwarding the copies of the cooperative management agreements to us per our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. I see that there is a financial component to the agreements. It looks like the NPS pulls the purse strings so I can see how they are calling the shots and imposing their will on the other parties to the agreement. It is unfortunate that 2700 citizens have expressed an interest equal access for class one and two E-bikes to Angeles District Parks. Many other developed countries like England, Australia and Chile just to name a few treat low power assist E-bikes as bikes, like the law that Governor Brown signed into law and became effective on 1-1-2016. The US is really behind on this issue. I though our State was being progressive and on the forefront with AB1096 but it appears that local land managers such as yourself are not on board, in this case because of the cooperative management agreement with NPS. This is too bad that the bike trails are closed for the people who require pedal assist to ride a bike given that low power pedal assist E-bikes has the same foot print as a normal bike and gets more people out to enjoy our natural resources. These people are being excluded from park bike trail access.

Anyway, I have a couple of questions for you.

1. Have you ridden an e-bike? 
2. What were you telling me about your ADA program? You said something about people have to fill out an application? 
3. For example I have State proof that I am permanently disabled and have been issued this credible proof from the DMV in the form of a placard and pocket card. Am I permitted to ride my low power assist class one or two E-bike in Angeles District Parks on bike trails? There is a DOJ 2010 rule that went into effect March 15, 2011 (35.237) that allow the use of OPDMD Devices that specifically includes E-bikes on bike trails. This does not apply to Federal wildness areas. So once again the rules are different for Angeles District Parks possibly than other parties to the Cooperative Management agreement. How are you reconciling that difference since you have indicated that you are trying to make your trail access and rules consistent with that of your adjacent Land managers? 
4. Lastly you said something about having to fill out some kind of application if you are disabled in order to access Angeles District Parks with an OPDMD. The DOJ rule states "(c)(1) Inquiry about disability. A public entity shall not ask an individual using a wheelchair or other power-driven mobility device questions about the nature and extent of the individual´s disability." I hope your application does not ask these questions. In fact having to fill out an application might not even be legal as it sounds like an impediment which would discourage and intimidate the disabled. I do not know that you can require a disabled person seeking access to do anything more than DOJ Rule 35.135 states which is providing credible proof of disability before allowing access.

Anyway I want to understand what this program you mentioned to me is, what access it provides to Angeles District Park's bike trails and what is being required of the disabled to gain access to the bike trails within Angeles District Parks with an OPDMD.

Thank you for your time and help in this matter. Keep in mind that I am inquiring not just for myself but for our 550 members and 2700 supporters of our petition so I will inform them of your access rules as you lay them out to me.

Thank you for your time and help in this matter.

​Steve Spiro, Executive Director 
949 212-3492 (Voice)
619 307-9328 (Txt)
949 200-6748 (Fax)

30025 Alicia Parkway #201
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677"