Life in the Bike Lane: Kids, e-bikes and sidewalks

If you pay any attention to old people ranting on social media, including "FaceSpace" and those neighborhood chat doohickeys, you'd think kids riding what are essentially small motorcycles on the sidewalk was a big deal. It is a big deal. I do see youngsters on e-bikes and scooters on the sidewalk along some busy boulevards, and I'm OK with that, as long as the speed is safe. You and I, however, have seen 12- and 13-year-olds traveling 30-plus miles per hour on what I assume are illegally modified bikes (it's not hard to hack them), which is well over the legal speed limit for e-bikes and scooters. There seems to be something about being electrically propelled that promotes dangerous behavior like wheelies and riding against traffic. I think it has something to do with "electrified impulses" emanating from the bike's batteries. There are three classes of e-bikes. Class I gives the rider "an assist" when pedaling, making it easier. The rider is still working, but not as much. It's great for going uphill. Class II can include both pedal assist and a throttle, which requires no effort from the rider. There is no age restriction for Class I and II, but those under 18 must wear a helmet. I have certainly seen what appear to be 10-year-olds e-biking at high speeds and near traffic without an adult present. Both classes are (theoretically) limited to 20 mph. As a rider of an acoustic bike, let me tell you, 20 mph is plenty fast. Class III e-bikes are essentially motorbikes, limited to 28 mph. I'm not sure what is magic about 28 mph. I am sure it's fast. Riders must be at least 16. I find it interesting most of my septuagenarian crowd opts for pedal assist and the barely-teen goes full throttle. While it is often easy to tell a throttled e-bike (not pedaling when riding uphill is a dead giveaway), even a cyclist familiar with the genre would have difficulty differentiating the class of an e-bike while passing in a car. Now that technology allows for smaller batteries, many look exactly like a hybrid or mountain bike. If one is willing to spend the money, one can get an e-road bike that is virtually indistinguishable from a regular bike. E-bikes got popular fast. I don't think we – government, parents, consumers – were ready. We are all trying to catch up with appropriate rules, laws, education and attitude. In California, some counties are restricting Class II e-bikes to kids over 16. Other counties are ramping up education responses, including bike rodeos and reaching out to parents through school programs. I'd like to see some classroom education starting in fourth grade. So, parents, stick to Class I and II (without a throttle) bikes, especially for younger riders. Demand helmet use, be sure everyone knows the rules of the e-road (riding with traffic, stopping at stop signs.) and if you can, take a few rides with them. When you are in your car with your children, point out dangerous behavior. I know you have seen the poor behavior of other parents' kids on e-bikes. Be sure your kid isn't one of them.