The Board of Supervisors this week voted unanimously to finalize the first countywide policy on electric bikes, aligning it with state standards adopted in 2016. The board acted in some haste: federal land managers such as the National Park Service have until the close of September to address a recent order from the Secretary of the Interior amending policies to newly welcome the use of all classifications of e-bikes in their jurisdictions. Superintendents were given some discretion to tailor interim rules in accordance with local rules on adjacent lands, but will have to adopt the universal federal policy once it is finalized after a public comment period. Marin’s new policy allows the state-defined first class of e-bikes—which provides pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour—and the second class—which provides throttle assistance up to the same speed—on public roads and parking lots in unincorporated Marin and within facilities operated by the parks department, as well as on paved bicycle and multi-use pathways. The county may decide to allow first- and second-class e-bikes in other localized areas, but will have to indicate that with signage. The third class of e-bikes, which provides pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour, is allowed on public roads but prohibited on the paved pathways and within facilities operated by the parks department, unless signs indicate an exception. The multi-use pathways that allow first- and second-class e-bikes in West Marin include the bike pathway along the Olema-Bolinas Road that leads to the Bolinas School and sections of the Cross Marin Trail. No e-bikes are allowed in other areas of county parks—such as on trails and fire roads—or on lands managed by the Marin County Open Space District. At Tuesday’s merit hearing, several supervisors voiced continued concerns about safety. Max Korten, the director of the parks department, said the sheriff’s office is on board to help with enforcement and that there are two deputies funded by the parks and open space departments that support park rangers. There was just one public comment on Tuesday: Cindy Winter, a Greenbrae resident, said she supported electric bicycles but was concerned about allowing them on paths. “As compared to fire roads, when e-bikes use our suburban pathways, the risk is shifted. Rather than cyclists being threatened by large, fast motor vehicles on our streets, e-bikes become the large, fast motor vehicles on our paths, threatening novice riders as well as foot people of all ages,” she said. The new county policy goes into effect in 30 days.