Agents of chaos, they weave through traffic. They strike terror in the hearts of both drivers and pedestrians. Nowhere is safe – the most serene sidewalks and roads have been transformed into battlegrounds where passersby must dodge the quiet whirring threats of electric bikes and scooters.
E-bikes in their prototypical form were developed in the early 1990s, but would not become commercially accessible until the mid-2010s. Their growth in popularity has been swift, with sales for electric bikes and scooters reaching 1.3 billion last year, according to PBS.
Like a biblical plague, nothing could stop their eventual descent on Poway. The bike racks now proudly boast a growing fleet of electric scooters and bikes, which may soon outnumber their manual counterparts. The appeal is understanding, as the electric motors enable users to travel at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour without touching the pedals, and 15 miles per hour on scooters. With tinkering modifications however, both can be made to exceed these speed maximums.
E-bikes are entangled with a myriad of dangers. Half come from misuse: riding with improper or no helmet, multiple people riding on bikes and scooters designed for one, or attempts at ill-advised stunts.
The rest stem from the hazardous situations they create with reckless riding on sidewalks and other areas intended for pedestrians. They add yet another thing for drivers to worry about on the already precarious commute on Espola Road.
The behavior and conduct of riders affect us all, but they aren’t the inherent villains in this tale. A part of the responsibility falls on the lack of bike-friendly infrastructure in Poway, which isn’t a quick fix. More bike paths, protected lanes, and clearer buffer lines would be worthwhile investments to protect both pedestrians and riders, as increasing numbers of students use e-bikes to get to school.
Reckless users of e-bikes and scooters, should face more tangible consequences. Current fines in San Diego county are unspecified, meaning that violators of the law can be fined varying amounts depending on the severity of the offense. The responsibility for this falls on the authorities to enforce, but with law enforcement stretched thin these days, electric vehicle incidents go frequently unnoticed . A hotline for bystanders and victims to report dangerous encounters or sightings of improper use could also help empower the everyday citizen to aid in bringing offenders to justice.
