May 7, 2025

Corte Madera – The Marin Water Board of Directors on Tuesday rescinded the District’s Watershed e-bike and trail share pilot programs approved last fall and approved a revised e-bike pilot, which permits class I e-bikes on watershed roads where conventional bikes are currently allowed. 

The Board’s Tuesday action comes after the two original pilot programs were put on hold over the last eight months due to a legal challenge. 

The newly approved e-bike pilot begins July 1, 2025, and may run for a period of up to two years. During the trial period, the District will work to ensure minimal ecological disturbances. District staff will also evaluate shifts in e-bike usage and assess class I e-bike use on watershed roads using a variety of methods, including through trail counters, visitor feedback surveys, and monitoring of social trail use. A bat study will also be conducted during the trial period and ongoing Northern Spotted Owl monitoring will continue. This comprehensive data collection will help evaluate any issues related to the use of class I e-bikes on fire roads and inform future watershed management and policy decisions. 

Two pilot programs were originally approved by the Marin Water Board of Directors in September of 2024 – an e-bike pilot allowing e-bikes on all watershed roads where bicycles are currently permitted, and a trail-share pilot expanding bicycle access to select designated watershed trails. Following the adoption of these initiatives and prior to their launch, a lawsuit was filed against District alleging the pilots were not approved in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In response, the Marin County Superior Court issued a preliminary injunction, pausing implementation of both pilots pending full legal review. 

Since then, the District has engaged in negotiations with the plaintiffs, culminating in a recent settlement agreement. The Tuesday actions taken by the Marin Water Board of Directors align with the terms of that agreement. 

“The Board’s actions reflect a compromise to the legal challenge filed against Marin Water last year, allowing the district to responsibly advance an effort that began in 2018,” said Matt Samson, Marin Water Board President. “We appreciate the efforts by all stakeholders to produce a productive resolution. While we’re moving forward today with a revised e-bike pilot, we remain committed to exploring future opportunities for bike access on select single-track trails on the watershed in a way that balances recreation and natural resource protection.” 

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