Originally Posted by
Crankycrank
+1. I posted in another thread about this and mentioned we recently had one of the large communities council wanted to ban ebikes for kids under 12. My thought was good idea (probably 14 or 15 would be better) I thought it would breeze through the vote but no, it was a small group of parents who were against it. They did eventually pass the requirement but had to go through some further discussion for a couple days to do it. Sorry, but if you're sending your kid out on one of these at 12 or under in the type of community this is with heavy traffic, lots of chaotic busy intersections, etc., you're a fool. I'll also add that the following story to that one was about a 14yo kid riding an ebike and in a coma after getting hit by a car. Hard to tell who was at fault from the info but a rider using some better safety skills may have avoided it. Adults of course are guilty of this too sometimes, but I see it much more frequently with young kids and teenagers.
It astounds me that any caring parent wouldn't know better than to put a child behind a high speed vehicle and allow them to ride it on city streets. It's as if they've forgotten what it is like to be young and stupid.
There is an ongoing story about a boy (14, I think) riding an emoto (not an ebike ... these are motorcycles in every sense of the word) in his neighborhood of Lake Forest. Apparently, he was riding it recklessly, and neighbors were fed up about it. Some people took to recording his antics and posting them on social media. The Mom did what all good moms do (NOT), and went to the police to complain about it (there are laws in California about filming minors ... some of which run afoul of the Constitution, IMHO).
Anyway, the police informed her in no uncertain terms that the emoto itself was illegal on city streets and in any case, illegal for her son to be riding any kind of motorcycle, as he was too young to have a license.
Predictably, she ignored them.
Also predictably, he hit someone. A Vietnam vet who was substitute teaching and was crossing the street near the school. The police referred her to Child Protective Services, and the Orange County DA charged her with criminal child neglect. The victim survived several days before passing away.
The Orange County DA updated the charge to involuntary manslaughter (the most he could charge her with under the circumstances). They also publicly warned that parents letting their children ride emotos on city streets would be handled similarly in the future.
Just yesterday, another kid on an emoto was riding foolishly, and chased by the police in Newport Beach. They called off the chase when it got too dangerous (he was riding into oncoming traffic), but they recognized both him and his bike, got a warrant and arrested him a few days later. They then referred the case to the same Orange County DA, so I would expect those parents to be charged as well.
So yea ... some jurisdictions are finally taking the problem seriously. It's about time.