Controversy Over Electric Mountain Bikes

MILTON, MA - MAY 8: The enlarged bottom bracket area which houses the motor of the e-bike belonging to Russell Polsgrove is pictured at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, MA on May 8, 2018. E-bikes are pedal-assisted bikes, not motocross rigs with throttles and big engines. Theyve gained traction in the road and rail-trail markets, allowing folks with disabilities, injuries, or flagging fitness more opportunities to ride. The new generation of electric bikes has also generated controversy, as they potentially threaten to disrupt access to nonmotorized trails for mountain biking. (Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)