Palo Alto paper screws up California e-bike classes
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Scott Mace
Oct 10, 2025, 4:43:37 PM (5 days ago) Oct 10
to Cabo Forum
[Someone reading this please dash off a letter to the editor...the
writer made major errors describing the three classes of e-bikes. Send
to let...@padailypost.com]
Schools and cities grapple with e-bikes
By Adriana Hernandez, Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto Daily Post, October 10, 2025
A 17-year-old girl was hit on her electric scooter in East Palo Alto
when a driver started driving after coming to a complete stop, police
said yesterday.
The girl ended up with minor injuries after the collision at Pulgas
Avenue and Oaks Street on Wednesday at 9:20 a.m., according to Sgt.
Angel Sanchez. The driver said she didn’t see the girl coming before
proceeding through the stop sign, Sanchez said.
The collision comes as the area is seeing a rise in incidents involving
youths and e-bikes or e-scooters. Last night, Menlo Park City School
District Superintendent Kristen Gracia told the school board that many
incidents involve teenagers riding e-bikes or e-scooters at high speeds
during arrival and dismissal hours.
Menlo Park School District will be looking to have an e-bike policy on
its campuses to make sure students are safe when riding motorized bikes.
The board will be discussing a proposed policy on Oct. 23.
Kids underestimate risks
Many student riders underestimate the risks and drive at unsafe speeds
or don’t wear helmets, said Gracia during yesterday’s district meeting.
Gracia said there have been 10 reported accidents with e-bikes in the
past year between the Menlo Park and Atherton police departments.
The e-bike policy would look into regulating use and where they can be
parked on campuses, according to Gracia.
Many incidents lately
There have been multiple similar incidents in the area lately. On Sept.
25, a Menlo-Atherton High School student on his e-bike was hit by a car
and sustained moderate injuries, Menlo Park Police spokeswoman Nicole
Acker said at the time.
With the popularity of the electric bikes and scooters, cities like
Menlo Park, San Carlos, Atherton and Los Altos are looking at ways to
keep everyone on the road safe.
San Mateo Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Larsen said to the San Carlos
planning commission in September that he has seen children running stop
signs on e-bikes. Many riders aren’t obeying the rules of the road, and
the police department plans to give presentations at schools to better
inform parents, Larsen said. There are three types of e-bikes that
people are using, Larsen said.
Three types
• A class one is a bike with an electric motor and pedal-operated,
giving riders more speed, with a maximum limit of 20 mph when riding,
Larsen said.
• A class two e-bike needs the rider to pedal to activate the motor,
having a maximum speed of 20 mph, according to Larsen.
• A class three e-bike’s motor only functions when the person is
pedaling, reaching a speed of 28 mph, according to Larsen.
Atherton Police Chief Steven McCulley has sent out reminders to riders
to follow the rules of the road in Atherton. “We continue to see
situations where riders, particularly younger operators, may not be
fully aware of traffic laws, helmet requirements, or the speed and
handling differences between e-bikes and traditional bicycles,” McCulley
said in a statement.
Los Altos ban
In Los Altos, city council banned bicyclists from riding e-bikes on the
sidewalk to prevent unsafe behavior.
The city started working on the ordinance last year after residents and
city employees saw kids popping wheelies, riding on handlebars and
treating downtown like a playground.
writer made major errors describing the three classes of e-bikes. Send
to let...@padailypost.com]
Schools and cities grapple with e-bikes
By Adriana Hernandez, Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto Daily Post, October 10, 2025
A 17-year-old girl was hit on her electric scooter in East Palo Alto
when a driver started driving after coming to a complete stop, police
said yesterday.
The girl ended up with minor injuries after the collision at Pulgas
Avenue and Oaks Street on Wednesday at 9:20 a.m., according to Sgt.
Angel Sanchez. The driver said she didn’t see the girl coming before
proceeding through the stop sign, Sanchez said.
The collision comes as the area is seeing a rise in incidents involving
youths and e-bikes or e-scooters. Last night, Menlo Park City School
District Superintendent Kristen Gracia told the school board that many
incidents involve teenagers riding e-bikes or e-scooters at high speeds
during arrival and dismissal hours.
Menlo Park School District will be looking to have an e-bike policy on
its campuses to make sure students are safe when riding motorized bikes.
The board will be discussing a proposed policy on Oct. 23.
Kids underestimate risks
Many student riders underestimate the risks and drive at unsafe speeds
or don’t wear helmets, said Gracia during yesterday’s district meeting.
Gracia said there have been 10 reported accidents with e-bikes in the
past year between the Menlo Park and Atherton police departments.
The e-bike policy would look into regulating use and where they can be
parked on campuses, according to Gracia.
Many incidents lately
There have been multiple similar incidents in the area lately. On Sept.
25, a Menlo-Atherton High School student on his e-bike was hit by a car
and sustained moderate injuries, Menlo Park Police spokeswoman Nicole
Acker said at the time.
With the popularity of the electric bikes and scooters, cities like
Menlo Park, San Carlos, Atherton and Los Altos are looking at ways to
keep everyone on the road safe.
San Mateo Sheriff’s Deputy Christopher Larsen said to the San Carlos
planning commission in September that he has seen children running stop
signs on e-bikes. Many riders aren’t obeying the rules of the road, and
the police department plans to give presentations at schools to better
inform parents, Larsen said. There are three types of e-bikes that
people are using, Larsen said.
Three types
• A class one is a bike with an electric motor and pedal-operated,
giving riders more speed, with a maximum limit of 20 mph when riding,
Larsen said.
• A class two e-bike needs the rider to pedal to activate the motor,
having a maximum speed of 20 mph, according to Larsen.
• A class three e-bike’s motor only functions when the person is
pedaling, reaching a speed of 28 mph, according to Larsen.
Atherton Police Chief Steven McCulley has sent out reminders to riders
to follow the rules of the road in Atherton. “We continue to see
situations where riders, particularly younger operators, may not be
fully aware of traffic laws, helmet requirements, or the speed and
handling differences between e-bikes and traditional bicycles,” McCulley
said in a statement.
Los Altos ban
In Los Altos, city council banned bicyclists from riding e-bikes on the
sidewalk to prevent unsafe behavior.
The city started working on the ordinance last year after residents and
city employees saw kids popping wheelies, riding on handlebars and
treating downtown like a playground.
Clinton Sandusky
Oct 11, 2025, 2:48:45 PM (4 days ago) Oct 11
to sc...@wiredmuse.com, Cabo Forum
Hi Scott,
Whether it's the media, bicycle industry, law enforcement and government, schools, and beyond there is still confusion, misinformation, or bias out there!
That's why I constantly write to the above identities to inform, educate, and correct them! Articles in the Bicycle Retailer and PoliceOne.com out at some point.
Clint
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