BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
Redwood City Council was set to discuss setting speed limits and age restrictions on e-bikes tonight (Dec. 22), but instead punted it to a future meeting.
No one said why the item was getting moved, but the proposed rules are aimed at reducing accidents, as e-bikes continue to grow in popularity among children and teens.
Despite the proposal being postponed, some residents weighed in. Residents said some of the new policies should include exceptions, such as allowing e-bike riding on the sidewalk.
Rebecca Ratcliff said many bike lanes are used by delivery cars to park, making it necessary to bike on sidewalks. Sometimes there is glass or debris on the street, also making it dangerous, and by not addressing these issues but implementing new polices will decrease the public’s interest in bicycling, Ratcliff said.
Taylor Pope said council should reconsider the wording of the changes because some restrictions do not consider the many parts of the city where it is unsafe to ride a bike.
The proposed e-bike policy would fine riders $50 for the first violation, $75 for the second and $100 for the third, according to Principal Planner Malahat Owrang’s report.
There are three types of e-bikes people are using, each with a different speed limit council may implement.
Class one bikes with an electric motor and pedal-operated, and class two bikes with a pedal to activate the motor, will have a maximum speed limit of 20 mph. Class three e-bikes, whose motors only work when the rider is pedaling, are limited to riders over 16 and have a maximum speed of 28 mph. Electric scooters will be limited to 15 mph.
Teens will have to think twice before popping a wheelie or racing with other riders on e-bikes, as the new rules prohibit such behavior, Owrang said.
No matter how many rules and regulation one puts in place it doesn’t change the laws of physics. Rules and regulations also don’t make children and teenagers, especially boys, more mature and capable of judging risk. BTW those speed restrictions won’t stop e-bikes from going faster down hill.