Skip to content
LexBuild

43 CFR § 420.5 - Definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t43/s420.5"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "43 CFR § 420.5 - Definitions."
title_number: 43
title_name: "Public Lands: Interior"
section_number: "420.5"
section_name: "Definitions."
chapter_name: "BUREAU OF RECLAMATION, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR"
part_number: "420"
part_name: "OFF-ROAD VEHICLE USE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "32 Stat. 388 (43 U.S.C. 391 ) and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto; E.O. 11644 (37 FR 2877)."
regulatory_source: "39 FR 26893, July 24, 1974, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "420"
---

# 420.5 Definitions.

As used in this part, the term:

(a) *Off-road vehicle* means any motorized vehicle (including standard automobile) designed for or capable of cross-country travel on or immediately over land, water, sand, snow, ice, marsh, swampland, or natural terrain. The term excludes:

(1) Nonamphibious registered motorboats;

(2) Military, fire, emergency, or law enforcement vehicles when used for emergency purpose;

(3) Self-propelled lawnmowers, snowblowers, garden or lawn tractors, and golf carts while being used for their designed purpose;

(4) Agricultural, timbering, construction, exploratory, and development equipment and vehicles while being used exclusively as authorized by permit, lease, license, agreement, or contract with the Bureau;

(5) Any combat or combat support vehicle when used in times of national defense emergencies;

(6) “Official use” vehicles; and

(7) Electric bikes as defined by paragraph (h) of this section: While being used on roads and trails upon which mechanized, non-motorized use is allowed, that are not being used in a manner where the motor is being used exclusively to propel the E-bike for an extended period of time, and where the Regional Director has expressly determined, as part of a land-use planning or implementation-level decision, that E-bikes should be treated the same as non-motorized bicycles.

(b) *Bureau* means the Bureau of Reclamation.

(c) *Reclamation lands* mean all lands under the custody and control of the Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation.

(d) *Off-road vehicle area* means a portion or all of a specifically designated parcel of Reclamation lands opened to off-road vehicle use in accordance with the procedure in section 420.21.

(e) *Off-road vehicle trail* means a specifically delineated path or way varying in width which is designated to be used by and maintained for hikers, horsemen, snow travelers, bicyclists and for motorized vehicles.

(f) *Official use* means use of a vehicle by an employee, agent, or designated representative of the Federal Government who, with special permission from the Bureau of Reclamation, uses a vehicle for an officially authorized purpose.

(g) *Organized Event* means a structured, or consolidated, or scheduled meeting involving 15 or more vehicles for the purpose of recreational use of Reclamation lands involving the use of off-road vehicles. The term does not include family groups participating in informal recreational activities.

(h) *Electric bicycle* (also known as an E-bike) means a two- or three-wheeled cycle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of not more than 750 watts (1 horsepower) that meets the requirements of one of the following three classes:

(1) *Class 1 electric bicycle* means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

(2) *Class 2 electric bicycle* means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

(3) *Class 3 electric bicycle* means an electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.

[39 FR 26893, July 24, 1974, as amended at 44 FR 34909, June 15, 1979; 85 FR 67298, Oct. 22, 2020; 86 FR 59041, Oct. 26, 2021]