Despite laws barring kids from riding e-scooters and e-bikes, they are popular and hazardous.

Pam Marino here, feeling concerned after watching a big increase in neighborhood kids buzzing around Pacific Grove perilously on e-bikes and electric scooters. I’ve seen some pretty dangerous situations unfold.

Actually, I think I’ve only really seen boys, looking to be around age 12 or so, whizzing around at a fast clip. Some are wearing helmets as required by law, some are not. I once saw two electric scooters on the road together with two boys each riding them—the passengers were not wearing helmets. 

I’m not the only one who’s noticed an increase in issues with kids and e-scooters and e-bikes. 

“Since my appointment in March, I have seen an increase in e-bike related complaints in Pacific Grove,” says Pacific Grove Police Chief Casey Day via email. “These range from unsafe riding behavior to non-compliance with licensing and helmet laws.”

None of the riders I’ve seen were exhibiting good choices in navigating the road. It made me think two things: One, this is an accident waiting to happen; two, there oughta be a law against children on e-scooters and e-bikes. (California law forbids children under 16 from riding e-scooters or motorized scooters, and it requires a driver's permit or license.)

Sadly, an accident did happen on the first day of school, Tuesday, Aug. 5, when a seventh-grader at Pacific Grove Middle School riding an electric scooter was hit by a car on his way to school, according to a joint statement issued after the crash by P.G. Unified School District Superintendent Linda Adamson and Chief Day.

“The good news is the student is doing well,” Adamson says, a week after the incident. The student did suffer some injuries and is at home recuperating. 

As to the law, Day says that it’s illegal for minors under the age of 16 to ride motorized scooters and e-scooters on public roads. (Riding two to a scooter, like the kids I saw recently, is absolutely illegal.)

For e-bikes, it’s illegal for minors under the age of 18 to ride a Class 3 e-bike, which can reach 28 miles per hour. There is no age limit for Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, which go up to 20 mph. Anyone, regardless of age, must wear a helmet on a Class 3 bike. For Class 1 and 2, a helmet is—unfortunately—only legally required for minors under the age of 18, the same as for regular bikes and scooters.

Day says that they “strongly encourage parents and guardians to understand the age, licensing and helmet requirements before purchasing an e-scooter or e-bike for their children.” The department just released a digital version of a pamphlet going over the laws and what parents should know. Hard copies are available inside the PGPD lobby at 580 Pine Ave.

Adamson sees what happened last week as an outreach opportunity to educate families about e-scooter and e-bike safety, she says. There may be policies developed in the future about their use by students.

I’d like to see it become illegal for kids to ride e-scooters and Class 1 and 2 e-bikes. There is just too much opportunity for injuries—or worse—as speed increases. Many kids don’t have the judgment or reasoning capabilities developed yet to make wise decisions while operating a vehicle.

Change may be coming. San Diego County is engaged in a pilot program that bans the use of Class 1 and 2 e-bikes under the age of 12, and there’s legislation under consideration to allow Orange County to do the same.

What do you think? Should children under the age of 16 be allowed to ride e-scooters and e-bikes? Let me know.