The rising popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) in Santa Cruz County has led to an increased focus on public safety. As warmer weather arrives and more people take to the streets on their e-bikes, the Santa Cruz County Community Traffic Safety Coalition has highlighted the need to address growing concerns about unsafe e-bike usage.
Officer Israel Murillo, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Cruz division, recently shared his agency’s experiences with enforcing laws around e-bike usage during a meeting organized by the coalition. He highlighted the uptick in e-bike-related crashes in the county, with 16 reported crashes and 13 resulting in injuries between January 1 and May 1. Two of these crashes involved juveniles riding faster-speed Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes near Mar Vista Elementary.
A significant issue identified by Murillo is parents purchasing e-bikes for their children without fully understanding the potential risks involved. To address this, he suggested creating educational events aimed at parents and young e-bike users to provide a back-to-basics understanding of e-bike safety.
Murillo emphasized the importance of e-bike riders following the basic rules of the road, including obeying traffic laws, wearing helmets, stopping at stoplights and stop signs, using bike lanes instead of sidewalks, and using hand signals to change lanes. These measures, he believes, would make a “huge difference in everyday life” by improving safety for e-bike riders and those sharing the road.
When asked about the difference in treatment between standard bike users and e-bike users, Murillo explained that officers respond the same way to both because safety is paramount for all cyclists. Depending on the situation, a bike stop can result in a warning or a citation. If the operator is under 16 years old and riding a Class 3 e-bike, the police will contact parents to pick up their child.
To further promote e-bike safety, the coalition plans to host additional workshops and presentations. Ecology Action’s Go Santa Cruz program is also taking initiatives to encourage alternative transportation options, with a scheduled Bike Commuting 101 workshop later this month.
Enhancing education and awareness about e-bike safety among parents, young riders, and the community at large is crucial to ensure a safer riding experience for all in Santa Cruz County. By working together, local organizations and law enforcement can play a vital role in creating a culture of responsible and safe e-bike usage.
The popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) in Santa Cruz County is on the rise, leading to increased concerns about public safety. The Santa Cruz County Community Traffic Safety Coalition is putting a spotlight on the need to address the growing issues related to unsafe e-bike usage as more people take to the streets on their e-bikes.
Enforcing laws around e-bike usage has become a priority for law enforcement agencies in the area. Officer Israel Murillo, spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol’s Santa Cruz division, shared the experiences of his agency during a meeting organized by the coalition. According to Murillo, there has been an uptick in e-bike-related crashes in the county, with 16 reported crashes and 13 resulting in injuries between January 1 and May 1. Notably, two of these crashes involved juveniles riding faster-speed Class 3 pedal-assist e-bikes near Mar Vista Elementary.
One significant issue highlighted by Murillo is the lack of understanding among parents who purchase e-bikes for their children. To address this concern, he proposed creating educational events aimed at parents and young e-bike users to provide a foundational understanding of e-bike safety.
Murillo emphasized the importance of e-bike riders following basic rules of the road such as obeying traffic laws, wearing helmets, stopping at stoplights and stop signs, using bike lanes instead of sidewalks, and using hand signals to change lanes. He believes that these measures would greatly improve safety for e-bike riders and others sharing the road, making a “huge difference in everyday life.”
When asked about the difference in treatment between standard bike users and e-bike users, Murillo explained that officers respond the same way to both because safety is paramount for all cyclists. Depending on the situation, a bike stop can result in a warning or a citation. If the operator is under 16 years old and riding a Class 3 e-bike, the police will contact parents to pick up their child.
To further promote e-bike safety, the Santa Cruz County Community Traffic Safety Coalition plans to host additional workshops and presentations. In addition, Ecology Action’s Go Santa Cruz program is taking initiatives to encourage alternative transportation options, including organizing a Bike Commuting 101 workshop later this month.
Overall, enhancing education and awareness about e-bike safety among parents, young riders, and the community at large is crucial to ensure a safer riding experience for all in Santa Cruz County. By collaborating with local organizations and law enforcement, a culture of responsible and safe e-bike usage can be fostered.