Safe Trails:
E-Bike Survey Results
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by Erick Wikum
In the March 2026 edition of Trail Mail, readers were asked to participate in a short survey to gauge attitudes towards e-bikes on the Little
Miami Scenic Trail. The survey receive 123 responses, with 79 respondents providing comments about e-bike usage on the trail. The message that emerged from the survey is that e-bike use is a two-edged sword. On the one hand, e-bikes expand the range of people
who can enjoy the trail. On the other hand, many e-bike users do not follow trail etiquette around others, giving rise to safety concerns.
The survey included several multiple-choice questions and an open-ended question to elicit comments and both elicited similar responses. Following is a Claude AI summary of the respondents’
comments.
Support for E-Bikes Many respondents, particularly older and physically limited riders, view e-bikes positively.
Seniors (several in their 70s) see them as a way to maintain an active lifestyle, and respondents frequently note that e-bikes enable people with health limitations to enjoy trails they otherwise couldn't.
Top Concerns
- Speed is
the dominant complaint — many riders feel e-bikes travel too fast for shared trails, creating dangerous situations especially around children and pedestrians.
- Lack of courtesy —
failing to announce when passing ("on your left") is cited repeatedly across both e-bike and regular cyclists.
- No enforcement —
many feel existing rules aren't being enforced, making any regulation largely symbolic.
- Unskilled/young riders —
concerns about inexperienced users and unsupervised minors on high-powered bikes.
The changing landscape isn’t unique to the Little Miami Scenic Trail. Several representatives of the Friends of the Little Miami State Park (FLMSP) met recently with representative of
other groups within the Miami Valley Trails Network to discuss the emergence of electric motorcycles dubbed e-moto (which are not permitted on Ohio trails). What emerged from this preliminary discussion was a need both for common sense rules and for educating
the public on trail rules and etiquette to balance open, multi-use trail access with safety.
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Safety Improvements in Progress
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by City of Loveland, Ohio - Government , 5/25/2026
https://www.facebook.com/lovelandcitygovernment
As you may have seen, ODOT contractors have begun locating utilities in preparation for the installation of the new traffic signal designed to improve safety and efficiency at one of
Downtown Loveland’s busiest intersections.
Located where the Little Miami Scenic bike trail crosses West Loveland Avenue, the new signal will regulate bicycle, pedestrian, and vehicle traffic. The signal will be fully synchronized
with the nearby traffic lights at State Route 48 and Karl Brown Way to better coordinate east-west traffic movement through the downtown corridor.
Bicyclists and pedestrians will now follow traditional traffic light signals — green, yellow, and red — similar to any other intersection. When east-west vehicle traffic has a green light,
trail users will have a red signal and should wait to cross.
Loveland Police Department officers will be present during the implementation period to help users understand the new signals and to ensure safety and compliance.
As part of this project, Railroad Avenue will also transition to a one-way street to support improved traffic circulation.
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"I commend your tech support for organizing the assist at mm’s 38.5-39 Saturday."
From a reader on May 29
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Trail Hotline: (513)
212-6958 - Report down trees or other non-emergency safety issues. A text message with a photo is most helpful.
When you see a problem, call the hotline and report it. The hotline now feeds directly to 2 people so the response can be quick.
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by Little Miami State Park,
https://www.facebook.com/LittleMiamiStatePark
As previously reported, a 3.5-mile section of the Little Miami Scenic Trail within Little Miami State Park between the Lebanon Countryside Trail connection (MM 34.1) and Stubbs Mill Road
(MM 30.6), will be closed beginning June 1, 2026 through July 2027 (as construction concludes, we will post exact opening
dates as we know) due to the Second Phase of the South Lebanon Sewer Infrastructure Project.
A June 10 update:
Please note: not all sections will be closed at all times, however the entire 3 mile area will be impacted at points according to construction schedules, which are fluid daily. The park
is posting the entire area as a closure, as it will not be passable. Work will progress on the South Lebanon trail head north then South Lebanon trail head south with the bridge to the Lebanon area (spur) last.
We will post separately when the bridge (spur) is closed, you can now travel the spur and then go South.
Please be safe and respect the construction area, your safety and that of the construction workers matters most.
Do not pass the barriers.
For additional information and current trail updates, please contact the Little Miami State Park office at 513-897-3055.
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Events
There are many Independence Day events happening along the trail, particularly in Loveland and Morrow, on July 3 and July 4. These events traditionally impact access to and travel on the LMST. Check local
newspapers and social media outlets for details.
August 29
Tour
de Crown, Cincinnati
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