The use of electric bikes is up in Central Otago and there is nothing lazy or untoward about it, cycle trail operators say.
"If you're out there and you're riding a bike when you otherwise wouldn't have been able to, it's not cheating,'' Bike It Now co-owner Duncan Randall said. "It's got to be a good thing.''
The electric cycles, or e-bikes, had been well received on the Otago Central Rail Trail and their use was increasing, Mr Randall said.
E-bikes not exceeding 300W have been permitted on the rail trail since a rule change in mid-2015.
Before that, e-bikes were not permitted on the trail as they had been considered "vehicles'', although some cyclists were still using them.