~ The Advocate Asks ~ Retired Saugus resident Rick Fail loves his e-bike, but says it poses a public safety problem on the town’s rail trail, especially for kids who shouldn’t be riding them

Editor’s Note: For this week’s column, we sat down with Rick Fail, the proud owner of an e-bike that he’s owned for two years and enjoys riding around town, particularly on the Northern Strand Community Trail (also called the “rail trail”). But the 66-year-old Saugus resident wants the public and town officials to know that besides the many benefits that this electric-powered bike offers, it does have some negative aspects and does pose potential risks to pedestrians and other cyclists on the rail trail or around town. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli corroborated Fail’s safety concerns in a recent interview with The Saugus Advocate. “Some of them can go close to 30 miles per hour and the biggest problem with them is you can’t hear an e-bike until it’s right on top of you,” the chief said. Fail has been outspoken about the benefits as well as the risks involved with owning an e-bike. He is also an advocate for bike safety in general as it relates to Saugus residents who enjoy using the rail trail. As an e-bike owner and a frequent rider on the town’s rail trail, he requested to be interviewed by The Saugus Advocate to share his concerns about the e-bike and what he’s observed during the two years he’s been riding his bike, particularly on the rail trail.

  Fail, a U.S. Navy veteran, is the operations officer of the Saugus Veterans Council. The Tyler, Texas, native served for eight years in the Navy, the last four in New London, Conn. Following his discharge in 1986, he moved to Saugus with his wife, Connie, a Malden native. The couple has been married for 42 years. They have three grown-up children and two grandchildren.

  Highlights of this week’s interview follow.

  Q: How long have you owned your e-bike?

  A: About two years. The development of the rail trail in town was a great incentive for me to get a bike. It’s great for exercise, and there are a lot of benefits for people who own an e-bike. There are probably seven households in my neighborhood [Bay View Road in Precinct 2] that have e-bikes. And they’re becoming more popular.

  Q: What are some of the benefits?

  A: There are definitely health benefits, especially for seniors. And I’d like to see Medicare cover e-bikes for seniors. Medicare pays for wheelchairs. They pay for scooters. If they paid for e-bikes, maybe more seniors would be riding e-bikes. It would definitely slow down the process of some people having to rely on wheelchairs and scooters. It would get people out there doing exercise instead.

  Q: What are some of your concerns?

  A: I am concerned about kids, who may get their parents to buy them an e-bike without having the proper knowledge of how to use them and getting into risky situations – like having a temporary seat on the bike when they’re supposed to have a permanent one. And not using a helmet as required. If you are a parent, please go out and do your homework and make sure you know what you’re buying. And make sure your kid is trained and capable of riding an e-bike and follows the rules when they’re riding it so he or she doesn’t get into risky situations.

  Q: As a regular rider on the rail trail, what are some of the observations you have made during the two years you have been riding your e-bike on it?

  A: The rail trail is definitely being utilized and is one of the best assets we have in town and one of the least expensive.

  Q: And you have concerns about the safety on the rail trail?

  A: Yes. Wearing safety helmets is one of the most important things. What I see when I’m out on the trail – about 90 percent of the pleasure riders are wearing their helmets. A lot of the riders who don’t wear helmets are kids. Any person who is 16 years old or younger is supposed to be wearing a helmet when they are operating a bike. This also applies to in-line skates, a skateboard, a scooter or any other manually propelled wheeled vehicle. This law also applies to passengers who are 16 or younger.

  Q: What’s an e-bike?

  A: Massachusetts state law defines an electric bicycle or e-bike as a bicycle or tricycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of 750 watts or less, which meets the requirements of a Class 1 electric bicycle or a Class 2 electric bicycle.

  Q: What’s the difference between Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes?

  A: Class 1 are pedal-assist only, and the motor ceases to provide assistance when the bike reaches 20 mph. The motor can’t exceed 750 watts. The Class 2 e-bike includes a throttle and also ceases to assist at speeds above 20 mph. There’s also a Class 3 e-bike which is pedal-assist, but continues to help until you hit 28 mph, which restricts it from most bike paths and trails. One thing to keep in mind is that you are not allowed to ride an e-bike on a natural surface. They’re almost impossible to ride on a natural trail.

  Q: How safe is it for you to ride your e-bike on the rail trail?

  A: I would have to say it’s gotten a lot better, and that goes along with the police officers who are patrolling it. I still see some people driving on the trail with motor scooters and other vehicles that shouldn’t be there. I tried to stop a girl on a motor scooter. She told me to go “F” myself and kept riding. I’ve seen other people on mopeds who have no business on the rail trail.

The Saugus police help out a lot on their patrols. But there are problems that need to be addressed.

  Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share about e-bikes?

  A: While e-bikes offer numerous benefits, ensuring public safety through comprehensive regulation is crucial. E-bikes do pose risks to pedestrians and other cyclists. I think there’s a need for a balanced approach that promotes e-bike usage while prioritizing public safety. Finally, there needs to be a call to action for policymakers, industry stakeholders and the public to collaborate on safety measures.