The Department of Interior will allow electric bicycles in national parks and wildlife refuges anywhere that traditional bicycles have been allowed to go.

In an order signed on Aug. 29, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt directed department personnel to remove electric bikes from the definition of “motorized vehicles” to remove confusion about their permissibility on trails.

“Millions of Americans want to bike on our public lands, and pedal assist bikes can facilitate the effort of those whose age, fitness level or disability limits their interest,” said Bernhardt. “E-bikes can help make our parks, refuges and public lands accessible to them, providing opportunities to explore areas of the great outdoors that were previously unreachable.”

Rocky Mountain National Park, with 4.5 million visitors per year, has a new policy treats e-bikes virtually the same as those without motors. 

The order defines low-speed e-bikes as having a motor to assist the rider that cuts out above 20 or 28 miles per hour, depending on the bicycle model.

Colorado has adopted similar policies allowing electric bicycles on state park land, in some cases permitting them on roads as a motorized vehicle.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife has developed their own guidance for e-bike use on state parks and lands and to date these have worked well to accommodate this expanding recreational use in a manner that’s protective of our wildlife and natural resources,” Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement.

“We will work closely with the U.S. Department of Interior and their bureaus as they work to develop their own e-bike policies on federal lands to ensure their compliance with state laws and regulations.”