Colorado Parks & Wildlife at Highline Lake State Park recently treated Onewheel electric mobility devices as Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs). This misclassification means responsible riders are being banned — and even threatened with tickets — in areas and on trails where bicycles and Class 1 e-bikes are fully legal.

This interpretation does not align with Colorado law or common sense:

⚖️ Onewheels are not OHVs
Under C.R.S. § 33-14.5-101(3), an Off-Highway Vehicle is defined as a self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for off-highway use, including ATVs, dirt bikes, and UTVs.

A Onewheel is not designed primarily for off-highway use. It is a small, low-speed electric mobility device designed for mixed use — far closer to an e-bike or scooter than an ATV.
The same statute explicitly excludes vehicles registered under Title 42 (the highway traffic code) from being OHVs. Onewheels, like e-bikes and scooters, are governed under that framework, not the OHV statute.

🚲 Consistency matters
In 2019, CPW updated policy to allow Class 1 & Class 2 e-bikes anywhere traditional bicycles are permitted in State Parks and CPW-managed lands.

Onewheels share the same speed class (under 20 mph), similar size, and equal or lesser trail impact than e-bikes. Yet CPW enforcement currently excludes them with no statutory basis.

👩‍👩‍👧 Community impact
Onewheel riders are not “reckless off-roaders.” We are parents, commuters, and outdoor enthusiasts who want fair access to the same trails already shared by bicycles and e-bikes.

Misclassification has led to riders being harassed and threatened with tickets for simply recreating responsibly.

🌎 Sustainability
Onewheels are quiet, electric, and low-impact. Studies and rider experience show their trail wear is comparable — and often less — than bicycles.

They align with Colorado’s commitment to sustainable, low-emission recreation and transportation.

🚫 At Highline Lake State Park, two riders were threatened with citations by CPW officers for simply riding Onewheels on a multi-use area — while Class 1 e-bikes rolled by legally.

This is not fair access. It creates confusion, inconsistency, and mistrust between responsible riders and CPW.

✍️ We, the undersigned, call on Colorado Parks & Wildlife to:

1. Recognize Onewheels correctly under Colorado law as low-speed electric personal mobility devices, not OHVs.
2. Permit Onewheels anywhere bicycles and Class 1 e-bikes are allowed on CPW-managed lands, including State Parks, State Wildlife Areas, and other CPW trails.
3. Update public policy and officer training to reflect this clarification, ensuring consistent and fair enforcement statewide.

Colorado is a national leader in outdoor recreation. It’s time for CPW to modernize policy to include new, sustainable forms of mobility and recreation.

👉 Treat Onewheels like the Class 1 e-bikes they resemble — not the OHVs they are not.