As e-bikes grow in popularity, what should communities do to ensure safety? Editorial Board roundtable

OpinionAs electric bikes become more common across Northeast Ohio, communities are grappling with a growing number of safety concerns involving speed, inexperienced riders, and clashes with pedestrian. Members of the Editorial Board for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer weigh in.SLBy Editorial Board, cleveland.com and The Plain DealerAs electric bikes become more common across Northeast Ohio, communities are grappling with a growing number of safety concerns involving speed, inexperienced riders, pedestrian conflicts and confusion over what qualifies as a legal e-bike. Communities have expressed concern that riders, especially children and teenagers, can travel at speeds of 20 mph or more. Several recent crashes in Solon injured children, including some who required hospital treatment, prompted warnings from safety officials. Trail users and residents have complained about e-bikes operating at high speeds on community sidewalks, shared-use paths and recreational trails, creating hazards for pedestrians and other cyclists. Police departments in communities including Mentor-on-the-Lake and park systems such as Summit Metro Parks have increased patrols and enforcement in response to complaints and safety concerns. Several local governments are considering new regulations that include helmet requirements for riders under 18, restrictions on using electric motors on sidewalks and trails, speed and traffic enforcement measures, penalties for reckless riding, and authority for police to impound vehicles used illegally. Twinsburg enacted an ordinance that holds parents responsible for the actions of their children. Others are looking at registration requirements. What should communities do as e-bikes continue to grow in popularity and affordability? We asked members of the Editorial Board for their views: Leila Atassi, manager public interest and advocacy: Cities should stop pretending voluntary courtesy will tame motorized bikes traveling 20 mph on sidewalks and trails. Set clear age, helmet, speed and access rules, then enforce them — including confiscation for repeat or dangerous violations. Good for communities already doing so. And parents should understand: Buying a child a powerful e-bike does not obligate everyone else to dodge it. If your kid cannot follow the rules, the city should park the bike for them. Ted Diadiun, columnist: This boils down to two separate categories: adults and kids. Anyone 18 and over should be held to the same standard as with any other vehicle, regarding speed, safety and liability. Anyone under 18 is a parent’s responsibility. A kid cannot own or operate any of these vehicles without parental oversight, so all legal liability in the case of an accident or reckless operation should fall on those who provided the kid with access: The parents. Mary Cay Doherty, editorial board member: While frustrated communities will understandably enact e-bike regulations, we need statewide legislation. New Jersey’s requirements might prove instructive. E-bike riders must be at least 15 years old, have either an e-bike license or driver’s license, and register their bikes. Motorized e-bikes also need insurance, but low speed e-bikes are exempt from this requirement. The law is restrictive, but after watching young teens zip irresponsibly down streets this summer, I’d welcome strict e-bike rules in Ohio. Eric Foster, columnist: Allow me first to give my perhaps minority opinion: there should be no such thing as an electric bicycle. There should be bicycles, and there should be motorcycles/mopeds. That’s it. Anyways, one obvious fix could be eliminating the exclusion electric bicycles have from the license requirement under Ohio law. Though mopeds and e-bikes can attain similar speeds, the former requires a driver’s license, while the latter doesn’t. Who thought that was a good carve out? Lisa Garvin, editorial board member: Enforcement of any ordinances restricting e-bike use depends on how much time local law enforcement wants to spend handing out tickets to kids. In my city, citing scofflaws could easily be a full-time job. Registering all e-bikes makes sense, but cities should also offer and require free safety classes as a condition for registration to encourage compliance. Parents should not neglect their role to ensure their children are riding safely. Thomas Suddes, editorial writer: At a minimum, local governments should require helmet use, especially for people younger than age 18. Other musts: Ordinances or state laws that make parents responsible for damages inflicted on persons or property by riders younger than 18, and at least a Statehouse study of whether to require some species of insurance coverage. Virtually everybody has witnessed riders using bikes in demonstrably risky ways. And the one thing that might assure rider responsibility is liability. MORE BY EDITORIAL BOARD CLEVELAND.COM AND THE PLAIN DEALERHave something to say about this topic?* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this Editorial Board Roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com