On my five-minute drive to the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center the other day, I encountered seven e-bikes on the sidewalks and bike lanes. Two were performing dangerous maneuvers, including riding without holding the handlebars, and the other was doing a wheelie. Neither rider was wearing a helmet and they were going at least 20 mph. And none of them were seniors going to the Senior Center!
On The Signal’s front page (May 14), I saw the ongoing controversy over e-bikes and the hazards they pose to our community, especially the recent injuries sustained by a wheelchair-bound resident in Castaic on a bike trail.
Inevitably, not only will one of our kids or grandkids be maimed or injured, but they might be killed.
No doubt, most of those using e-bikes are following the rules and being protective of those around them. But the rules and laws governing e-bike use still enable abuse, posing risks and potential harm to Santa Clarita residents. Therefore, city, county and state legislators must enact more stringent laws that are followed.
Jurisdiction and oversight can be exercised at every level. Here are a few to start with:
• All e-bikes must be registered.
• All riders must have insurance similar to auto insurance.
• All riders and e-bikes must have working cameras that also display the speedometers and be subject to review by law enforcement.
• All riders must carry proof of insurance and working cameras.
• All high schools are subject to having inspection of e-bikes on campus.
• Any e-bike rider must pass a safety class every two years.
• All e-bike riders must wear helmets.
• Any e-bike rider who violates the law will be subject to fines or impoundment of their e-bike.
Some of these suggestions might be found unconstitutional or to violate individual rights, but let the legislators and policymakers figure that out.
Plus, there are probably other rules we could add to our list to protect the public.
We want our children and grandchildren not only to become high school seniors but also to live long enough to become older adults who can travel safely to our Senior Center.
Gene Dorio
Saugus
