If you have been thinking about bicycling around Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and scenic Thurston County but aren’t sure if you have the stamina, consider hopping on an e-bike. Electric-assisted bikes give riders a battery-powered boost to keep them going if needed. And that option is particularly exciting for mature riders or those with physical challenges who want to continue bicycling outdoors.
“If the one obstacle they are facing is that hill, or it’s too far to get to the trail, that’s where e-bikes overcome that,” says Alan Paxton, manager of Trek Bicycle Olympia West. He notes that mature riders who want to keep bicycling as they age are his most frequent customers. Cam Sloan, owner of Big Stump Bikes, which is opening in July 2024 in West Olympia, agrees that older riders are a target customer of today’s bike shops. “If you want to do a longer ride, but the effort isn’t fun anymore, e-bikes offer the opportunity to do that,” Cam says.
An Overview of E-Bike Basics Before You Head Out
While much about riding e-bikes is the same as for regular bikes, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Select Your E-Bike. E-bikes are designated as class 1, 2 or 3 depending upon their battery assistance and speed levels. In selecting an e-bike, Alan says it’s important to know how you will use it and where you will ride. Are you planning to ride on flat streets, go up and down mountain trails, commute daily to work, or a hybrid of these activities? He says to shop around to get the right e-bike. “You get what you pay for,” Alan adds. Want to try one out? Ask a bicycle dealer if you can take a test ride. Or, rent an e-bike at the Swantown Inn in Olympia.
- Be Safe. Alan says helmets are important safety tools for e-bikers, just like with regular bicyclists. E-bike riders must obey all traffic laws, signals and signs. Other safety rules for biking in Thurston County are listed here.
- Check Routes. Generally, all e-bike classes are allowed on paved public roads and streets where bicycles are permitted, although jurisdictions can adopt restrictions. The Thurston Regional Planning Council provides bicyclists with an online route planning map and a GPS/location mobile map. Not all e-bikes are allowed on all trails. Watch for restrictions, especially if routes are designated as non-motorized trails and have a natural surface. For example, only specific e-bike trails are approved by the Department of Natural Resources in the Capitol State Forest North Slope.
Points of Interest in Planning Your E-Bike Rides in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County
Now that you are on your way, here are several points of interest to consider when planning your local e-bike routes.
- Urban Areas. The urban areas in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and throughout Thurston County are rich in popular destinations that can be accessed by e-biking on paved streets and roads. The Thurston Regional Planning Council’s Urban Area Map lays out streets leading to the Washington State Capitol Campus, Capitol Lake, downtown Olympia and its National Historic District, the Olympia Farmers Market, Percival Landing, Hands On Children’s Museum, Squaxin Park (formerly Priest Point Park), Wonderwood Park, Rainier Vista Community Park, Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls (formerly Tumwater Falls Park), to name just a few. The map includes colored route indicators that show bike lanes and bicycle streets, one-way streets, bicycle and repair shops, restrooms and other helpful information for riders.
- Outside Urban Areas. If you want to get just outside of urban areas, the map also points to trails like the 20.8-mile asphalt Chehalis Western Trail, a popular route with class 1 e-bike riders. TrailLink describes that “From the Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA) on Puget Sound, the trail passes through forests, farms, and pastures, as well as the suburban community of Lacey, as it heads south into the hills overlooking the scenic Deschutes River valley to its intersection with the Yelm-Tenino Trail.” Near this trail’s Yelm-Tenino Trail juncture, travelers pass through the Monarch Sculpture Park.
Tumwater retirees Jay and Lori Barney own class 1 e-bikes and say the Chehalis Western Trail is their favorite route. They opt to use the trail rather than busier roads near their home, although they are planning future local excursions on city streets.
You Will Love E-Biking in Thurston County
Jay and Lori love riding their e-bikes, and they say you will, too. “Anybody that wants to can do it,” says Jay. They add that these bikes keep them healthy and active. “It makes getting out and doing things easier,” says Lori.
For more information on what to see and do as you hop on your e-bikes for treks in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and throughout Thurston County, visit the Experience Olympia & Beyond website.
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