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Electric bikes are a growing phenomenon worldwide and in Arkansas. You’ve likely seen them gliding smoothly along with their riders, hardly seeming to exert any effort. Widely seen as a way to alleviate traffic and pollution and promote more sustainable living, e-bikes are also a way to ride farther and enjoy Arkansas’s beautiful cities and trail systems.
What Are E-Bikes?
Electric bikes are powered by rechargeable batteries that drive an electric motor. Depending on the type of bike, the motor is located on the rear hub of the bike or the middle of the frame. The electric motor kicks in when you pedal until you reach a speed of 20 mph on Class I and Class II bikes. Once you’ve reached this speed, the motor disengages. It restarts when the bike’s speed drops below this range. Bike riders can go faster than this on an e-bike, but once the e-bike tops 20 mph, you’ll be using muscle power alone to pedal the bike. E-bike batteries will typically hold their charge for 50 to 70 miles. Batteries can be recharged using a charging cable.
The Razorback Regional Greenway is a great trail for e-bikes.
If you’ve never ridden an e-bike before, the idea might seem a little intimidating. However, Sean Morrison, co-owner of OZ E-bikes in Bentonville, says, “If you know how to ride a bicycle, you should be able to ride an e-bike no problem.” While e-bikes are a little heavier than regular bicycles, they offer the same experience with less effort, allowing riders to go farther on rides. Morrison started OZ E-bikes after seeing a need with all of the trails being built in Bentonville and the Northwest Arkansas area. While Bentonville is becoming a magnet for mountain bikers, the expanding trail system is allowing others to enjoy the trails and even utilize them for commutes to work, stores, and entertainment. In fact, the city of Bentonville has a Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan to connect much of the city through a trail system, which could increase the use of e-bikes even more.
Tourists are also using e-bikes to experience Arkansas’s cities and trails. “We’ve definitely seen an increase in tourist traffic from all types of bikers,” Morrison says of OZ E-bikes. “It’s been amazing to meet people from all around the world who are thrilled with our trail systems, restaurants, and experience in our cities. It’s been awesome to give tours to people from top biking destinations like Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and even France, and continue to hear that we have the most accessible system of trails they’ve ever ridden.”
E-bikes are easy for tourists to rent and see more of cities like Bentonville and Little Rock. Little Rock outdoor outfitter Rock Town River Outfitters includes e-bike rentals in their shop and easy access to the 22-mile Arkansas River Trail through downtown Little Rock, with connections to other area trails. Northwest Arkansas has the 40-mile Razorback Greenway Trail, and the Delta Heritage Trail in Southeast Arkansas will eventually encompass nearly 100 miles of easy trail.
Choosing The Right E-bike
Choosing the right e-bike to rent or purchase is the same as choosing a regular bike—first, decide where you will ride the bike and what its main purpose is. Are you interested in riding in town on paved trails or do you prefer offroad trails? E-bikes are available as Class I (pedal-assisted motor), Class II (throttle-assisted motor) and Class III (pedal-assisted motor up to 28 mph). These categories also apply to e-mountain bikes. Class I and II bikes are typically rented from bike shops. At OZ E-bikes, riders can rent Class I mountain bikes or Class II e-bikes for city trails. “We feel as though Class II e-bikes and below are sufficient and are allowed on the trails as designated for either dirt or paved surfaces. Class III enters a territory that should only be allowed on the roads and therefore, we do not offer these bikes in our rental fleet, nor do we work as retailers with brands that offer bikes with speeds surpassing 20MPH,” Morrison says.
While it may sound a little confusing at first, that’s where local shop owners like Morrison can help. Staff rent bikes according to your purpose and can suggest appropriate trails. From OZ E-bikes, riders can access a number of trails, including the NWA Greenway, Slaughter Pen Trail System, Coler Mountain Bike Preserve, and Blowing Springs Park, although riders are welcome to take rented e-bikes further afield. “We’ve seen renters take our bikes to Eureka Springs, Mt. Nebo, Hobbs State Park, and beyond!” says Morrison.
Owning Your Own E-Bike
E-bike ownership has soared since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. About 15% of Americans now own an e-bike, and that number is set to increase as e-bike ownership continues to increase. However, e-bikes are pricier than their non-electric counterparts. Lower models start around $700 to $1,000, while better models will range from $1,200 to $2,000. If you’re going to invest in an e-bike, you’ll want to try one or two out beforehand. You can rent bikes at shops and also speak to staff about the best models for your price range and purposes.
At OZ E-bikes, Morrison works with potential buyers to find the right e-bike and even assemble it in the shop if needed. “Our staff is always happy to explain all of the different types of e-bikes out there right now, the top brands, and the top styles to make sure each customer gets the bike that’s most suitable for their intended riding. There’s a lot of misinformation being marketed from some of the overseas manufacturers and we are always happy to explain the different types of electric bikes and why a certain class or brand might be more suitable depending on the rider’s intentions with the bike.”
The city of Bentonville is currently running an e-bike rebate program to help residents purchase their bikes and transition to alternative forms of transportation. The E-bike Act Consumer Tax Credit is a federal tax credit that offers a rebate of up to 30% of the purchase price of an e-bike. Bikes must meet a few specific requirements to qualify, and this would be a good topic to discuss with an e-bike shop as you consider which bike to purchase.
Before You Ride
Before hopping on an e-bike, it’s good to know the rules of the road (or trail). Arkansas has laws for Class I, Class II and Class III e-bikes and where they can be ridden. Most of the time, Class I and Class II e-bikes can be ridden on the same trails as their equivalent non-electric versions, but some trails may have posted signage on which classes of e-bikes are allowed. Sean Morrison encourages all e-bike riders to pay attention to these rules. “The goal with e-bikes is to get more people on bikes, and to not follow these rules could have a negative impact on the willingness of our state and municipalities to work with e-bikes and welcome them as a new form of transportation. Currently, our state, and more specifically the NWA area, is one of the most e-bike-friendly destinations in the United States, and we don’t want to ruin that!”
If you’ve always wanted to try an electric bicycle, there is no better time to visit a local shop and take one out for a ride.
Arkansas E-Bike Rental and Bike Shops
Northwest Arkansas
OZ E-Bikes
E-Bike Bentonvillle
Bison Bikes
Rise and Rise Electric MTB
Mojo Bike Rentals
Custom Cruzers
Spoke Adventures
Pedego Electric Bikes Fayetteville
High Roller Cyclery
Phat Tire Bike Shop
https://www.facebook.com/PlugPowerBikes/
Ozark Mountain Bike Rentals (Eureka Springs)
Psych Bike (Harrison)
Little Rock
Rock Town River Outfitters
Arkansas Cycling & Fitness
Trek Bicycle Little Rock
Pedego Electric Bikes Little Rock
Spokes
Berridge Bikes (Texarkana)
Hot Springs Bicycle Touring Company (Hot Springs)
Photos are courtesy of Sean Morrison and OZ E-bikes and are used with permission.
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2 responses to “E-Bikes in Arkansas”
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Thanks for highlighting this exciting alternative way to enjoy biking in Arkansas. I have an E-Trike. I highly recommend it for seniors.
There are e-bikes to rent in Fort Smith through the Ride 4 Smilies bikeshare program