Yellowstone Shortline Trail — Attraction in West Yellowstone

I’d like to share our recent experience in West Yellowstone, particularly regarding e-bike access on this trail. Unfortunately, what started as an exciting opportunity to explore your beautiful area turned into a disappointing and even hostile experience.

Despite being told by some locals that the signs restricting e-bikes could be ignored, we were met with open hostility while riding the trail—including being yelled at by residents and warned by Forest Rangers. The message was clear: e-bike riders are not welcome here. It was an incredibly uninviting experience, especially considering that the community has invested around $300,000 in new infrastructure and educational signage along the trail.

This exclusionary attitude doesn’t just hurt feelings it undermines the spirit of tourism and accessibility that many communities strive for. We ride e-bikes not for convenience, but because of age-related limitations. Others use them due to disabilities or physical challenges. Since our visit, we've spoken with several other travelers who reported similar encounters. It's clear this isn't an isolated incident.

We understand there are concerns about the environmental impact of e-bikes. But if the trail runs alongside an off-road vehicle route with noisy, dusty, gas-powered traffic traveling at 35 mph it’s difficult to believe that e-bikes present a more serious disruption to wildlife. Additionally, the argument that e-bikes are "too fast" doesn’t hold up: we were regularly passed by traditional cyclists, especially downhill, while our own average speed was a modest 8 mph. Speed and impact are more about rider behavior than the type of bike.

It’s important to recognize what’s being lost here. E-bike riders are being denied access to a trail rich in educational and recreational value—something that should be enjoyed by all visitors, not just a select group.

Consider the following facts from BoltBikes.com:

U.S. e-bike sales rose 240% from 2019 to 2021. E-bike sales are projected to hit 6.4 million units per year by 2025. 96.4% of riders say they enjoy e-bikes more than traditional bikes. 75% say they prefer e-biking over driving. E-bikes are not a passing trend—they are part of the future of accessible, sustainable travel. Yellowstone National Park has no such bike restrictions. West Yellowstone risks developing a reputation as unfriendly or even hostile to visitors who choose (or need) to ride e-bikes.

This policy does not reflect the inclusive, welcoming spirit that we believe this community wants to project. A few exclusionary voices are now shaping an image of the town that discourages return visits and word-of-mouth promotion.

We urge you to reconsider this regulation. With thoughtful, inclusive planning, West Yellowstone could become a leader in accessible outdoor recreation not a cautionary tale of division and lost...

Read with interest the posts from e-bike users and while I can empathize with the concerns regarding limited access from a physical perspective, I feel we need to look at the e-bike issue with an eye to the future. E-motos are here, and other than motor size, what's the difference between these and e-bikes? I think land managers would be hard pressed to allow e-bikes but disallow e-motos. On public trails nationwide, despite limits on size/class of e-bike or e-bikes period, the electrified crowd already blows past the "NO E-BIKES" signs, and e-motos are next to scoff at the signs. Let's keep the human-powered limits in place, and motors off...

I have asthma and I always get very excited about paved bike trails. This one was a short ride from our campground which was even more exciting. We arrived and found out no class of ebikes are allowed. Even with the battery taken out and strictly on pedal which is insane. We instead had to use the trail beside it that is dusty, dangerous because it is for atv, utv, and motorcycles and very rocky. We could only ride about 5 miles because of the conditions. If this is a fire issue it still doesn’t make sense because the trail that runs right beside it (think feet) is full of potential vehicle...