As May marks the start of National Bike Safety Month, the San Diego Board of Supervisors today recognized the month by presenting a proclamation to community groups while also raising alarming concerns about a surge in e-bike accidents.

Board Chair and avid cyclist Terra Lawson-Remer was joined by the San Diego Bike Coalition, the YMCA, and Scripps Trauma Prevention to honor National Bike Safety Month and get information out to the public about e-bike accidents. 

“Across our region, we have made meaningful investments to support bicycling as a healthy, sustainable mode of transportation but infrastructure alone is not enough. In San Diego County and throughout the state doctors and trauma teams are seeing a rise in serious injuries among young riders on e-bikes. The crashes are now one of the leading causes of trauma for youth under 18,” said Board Chair Lawson-Remer. “These e-bikes can and have killed pedestrians and riders.” 

And there are two big reasons why:

• Kids are riding in real traffic without the training that drivers are required to have
• There is an alarming increase in young riders on high-powered, illegal e-motorcycles—vehicles that can reach 60 mph and are simply not designed for bike lanes or young operators. 

These recent trends make education and awareness more important than ever.  That is why Lawson-Remer is launching a series of e-bike safety classes at YMCAs  from June to August in communities throughout San Diego County. The media will get more information on the times and locations in early June.

 Next week, Lawson-Remer is hosting a free virtual webinar with medical experts from Scripps — the people seeing these injuries up close — to break down what’s happening and what we can do about it.

📅 Date: Tuesday, May 12
⏰ Time: 6pm
💻 Location: Virtual Webinar Registration - Zoom  (Open to the media. Register on link) 

In this session, you’ll hear:

·        What doctors are seeing right now in emergency rooms

·        The most common causes of serious e-bike injuries

·        What parents — and communities — should know about safety and risk

·        What needs to change to keep kids safe on our streets