Great article! I would add one moniker to part 5: Hike-N-Bike. When rails-to-trails were first being created, "Bike" trail was the preferred venicular, and seemed to, if not purposely, exclude so many others. I have seen the transition to more acceptance, and the great Mohican Valley Trail, a truly multi-use trail.
In early February 2026, Iowa Republican lawmakers introduced House Study Bill 637 (HSB 637), a controversial proposal that would have severely restricted road bicycling by prohibiting bicycles and e-bikes on roads with speed limits over 25 mph. Due to intense backlash from cycling advocates who deemed it the most restrictive bill in state history, the proposal was paused for further work and is not currently active law.
Key Details of the Proposed (But Paused) Restrictions:
25 MPH Limit: Bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, and other mobility devices would be banned from most roads, as1 most rural routes exceed this limit.
Penalties: Violations would be considered a simple misdemeanor, carrying potential fines of nearly $900 and up to 30 days in jail.
Operational Restrictions: The bill included clauses that would limit how cargo could be carried and required braking systems that could cause skidding, which conflicts with modern hydraulic brakes.
Impact on Events: The proposed restrictions raised significant concerns regarding the future of cycling events like RAGBRAI.
Great article! I would add one moniker to part 5: Hike-N-Bike. When rails-to-trails were first being created, "Bike" trail was the preferred venicular, and seemed to, if not purposely, exclude so many others. I have seen the transition to more acceptance, and the great Mohican Valley Trail, a truly multi-use trail.
I agree and overlooked that. Bike and hike may not be as welcoming as the makers thought.
Don't let the Republicans in Ohio do this to us.
In early February 2026, Iowa Republican lawmakers introduced House Study Bill 637 (HSB 637), a controversial proposal that would have severely restricted road bicycling by prohibiting bicycles and e-bikes on roads with speed limits over 25 mph. Due to intense backlash from cycling advocates who deemed it the most restrictive bill in state history, the proposal was paused for further work and is not currently active law.
Key Details of the Proposed (But Paused) Restrictions:
25 MPH Limit: Bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, and other mobility devices would be banned from most roads, as1 most rural routes exceed this limit.
Penalties: Violations would be considered a simple misdemeanor, carrying potential fines of nearly $900 and up to 30 days in jail.
Operational Restrictions: The bill included clauses that would limit how cargo could be carried and required braking systems that could cause skidding, which conflicts with modern hydraulic brakes.
Impact on Events: The proposed restrictions raised significant concerns regarding the future of cycling events like RAGBRAI.