Challenging hegemonic velocipedic modality in the great outdoors: The seemingly inexorable rise of the electric mountain bike

The use of mountain bikes away from purpose-built arenas has often been equivocal, with latent potential for conflict between their fast-moving dynamic and more sedentary pastimes. Recently a new threat has emerged
that challenges not only the ambulatory hegemony but also the established mountain biking fraternity. This paper seeks to understand conflicts, perceptions and barriers associated with the use of e-mountain bikes
(eMTBs) in wild, uninhabited landscapes. The study utilized a mixed-method approach, with both interviews to explore the opinions and perceptions of key stakeholders in Scotland regarding eMTB users’ access to trails in
such areas, their potential impacts and how responsible trail behaviours can be facilitated and an online survey of regular mountain bikers and eMTB riders using the themes identified through the interview findings. The
findings add to the growing corpus of scholarly knowledge on this nascent group of trail users’ potential impacts, on the natural environment and on other trail users for example, to help understand how their increased presence in the mountain environment can be managed without detracting from the user experience.