Thank you kindly for those of you that made heart felt public comments supporting the inclusion of e-bikes on the OC Park's bike trails and paths at last night's OC Parks Commissioner's meeting. You know who you are. All of the public comments were supportive except for those of the head of the Sierra Club who claimed that E-bikes are motorized vehicle's and compared them to motorcycles. Here is a copy of our public statement,

"Good Evening, I’m Steve Spiro the Executive Director of the Electric Mountain Bike Association.
We represent over 5000 members and petition signers. We are requesting the removal of the prohibition on low power assist electric bicycles in OC Parks implemented on July 17, 2018 in the revised ordinance OCCO 2-5-29(n).
We also would like a response with regard to the progress of OC Park’s request to Fish and Game for guidance on allowing low power pedal assist e-bike access to OC Park’s bike trails and paths. We were told that it would take up to 3 months for guidance from them and it has been about six months. Both state and federal law define class one and two e-bikes the same as any bike. (AB 1096, Public law 107-319 and Department of the Interior order 3376 provide for class one and two e-bikes to go anywhere a standard bike is permitted to go).
O.C. Parks is not acting in the spirit of State and Federal law in treating low power pedal assist e-bikes as motor vehicles when they are clearly just bicycles per state and federal law. We request that the advisory board advise the OC county board of supervisors to bring local ordinances in line with the spirit of said State and Federal law.
Class one and two e-bikes travel at approximately the same speed and have the same ecological foot print on bike trails as standard bicycles. They provide access to more of our residents who otherwise would not have access due to age and physical constraints.
We will E-mail a copy of this statement to Suchi at OC Parks in case you would like to review my comments or contact us for any questions or to arrange a demo ride of an e-bike. Thank you for your time tonight."

Thank you to our members and petition signers for your continued support. If you are not yet a member of the Electric Mountain Bike Association we are your association fighting for your right to ride on natural surface bike trails and paths. Please follow this link and join us. It's eazy. Membership is free.  We need all of the support and help we can get on this issue. Over 4000 of you have signed the petition but only 1000 of you have become members. Please take the next step to help us continue this fight and join the Electric Mountain Bike Association it only takes about 30 seconds of your time and helps our collective voices be heard.