E-bikes a hot issue on roads, sidewalks and elsewhere

I am one of those guys who – when the server says, “Don’t touch the plate, it’s really hot” – is always seized with a desire to see just how hot that plate really is.
It, uh, usually is.

This brings us to the topic of bicycle safety and Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council. On the agenda are two items related to biking issues. One is an ordinance – similar to what other cities are doing – creating regulations on the use of the ever-increasing e-bikes and another item about possible pedestrian and bike safety projects.

As you are probably aware, the electrification of bicycles has increased the reckless idiocy issue by a factor of at least 10. Teenagers and some young adults have been cycling without regard to rules or skull fractures since David first defeated Goliath by running him off the sidewalk into traffic.

But these new e-bikes are bigger and faster and –as you know from your physics class – velocity increases mass. That means that a rider falling from his bike at 40 miles an hour is likely headed to the emergency room. And if he hits a little old person on the sidewalk at 20 miles an hour, it’s …well, you get the idea.

As a general rule, I blame the wild-and-crazy teens for the crisis of “Born to be Wild” collisions, but the responsibility ought to be spread around.

Bike paths have been around for a while, but exist generally as a fading strip of white paint in the roadway where somebody has already parked a Toyota.

Very few cities or counties have put any serious muscle behind action which keeps a fast-peddling 15-year-old and an elderly (anyone older than me) human from trying to safely share a cracked 8-foot wide sidewalk decorated with a tree and a utility pole.

I’ll have more on this in my next column, but – for now – wear your helmet, Liam, and slow the flock down!