As concerns over e-bike safety rise across communities in Southern California, one Inland Empire city is taking extra steps to control illegal riding.
New rules by the city of Murrieta will penalize not only the rider, but the parents, as well, if underage individuals are found to be traveling recklessly on electric bicycles. The city approved an ordinance this week that it says will help crack down on illegal ridership by penalizing the parent.
City leaders kept hush on the amount of the fine to instead focus on awareness of the new rule. According to Murrieta Police Department Chief Matt Henry, his department received more than 1,300 calls regarding underage bikers in recent years.
“Interfering with traffic accidents, mobs of 3, 5, 10 bikes riding down the street doing wheelies and reckless driving and damaging properties,” Chief Henry said.
The department said the variety of electronic bikes can range in speed from 20 to more than 50 miles per hour. The chief said many of the accidents being reported in relation to the e-bikes involve children 12 to 16 years old.
“We don’t have an age limit yet in our city, but 11,12,13,14 are being thrown into our streets, which are already crowded with lots of traffic and expected to understand the rules of the road like what are the right a ways and where to stop,” Henry said.
While other cities across the state crack down on the issue, Murrieta is hoping to redirect the problem by starting at the core — focusing on student awareness in the classrooms. It’s also hoping to avoid the growing number of accidents by holding the child’s parents responsible.
“We issue a form saying, ‘We are putting you on notice that your child is riding irresponsible and dangerous, and could harm themselves or others. And if it happens again, there could be criminal charges or lawsuits,’” the chief said.
In addition to the penalty, an educational course for both students and parents is in the works to raise awareness on how dangerous these e-bikes can be.