Yikes! Beware of the E-bikes

Saugus town, school and public safety officials launch a community campaign to protect kids and the general public from the dangers of electric bikes and their unsafe use on town streets and the bike trail

 

By Mark E. Vogler

 

SAUGUS – During the town election this fall, public safety concerns over e-bikes and motorized scooters emerged as one of the main concerns of voters in Precinct 1, Town Meeting Member Mark J. Bell recalled this week as he looked back on his reelection campaign for a second two-year term. “Not only was this a big issue I kept hearing about during the Saugus election, but the 13-year-old child who unfortunately died in an e-bike crash in Stoneham happened in front of my parents’ house,” Bell told The Saugus Advocate this week.

“My dad, who was a firefighter for over 40 years, was one of the first on scene so that also hit close to home. He is a retired Cambridge firefighter. And, yes, Stoneham is where I grew up,” he said.

What resonated as a top concern among Precinct 1 residents rapidly became a townwide issue of multiple facets that has stirred debate about public safety issues in communities across Massachusetts as well as at the State House in Boston. Feedback from Precinct 1 residents influenced Bell to start researching the existing laws and looking into how other towns are handling the issue.

“During my research , I found that most communities are focusing on education and enforcement, with strong coordination between police, schools, parents and local officials rather than banning them completely,” Bell said of the e-bikes.

“Here in Saugus, it might be a good idea to take a look at whether there are steps the town can take to make things safer for kids, adult operators and drivers on the roads. And if there are practical solutions to make it safer, then what would those solutions look like,” he said.

Five weeks after the election, the issues that Bell is concerned about have gained momentum as other elected town officials and citizens are talking about their concerns publicly.

 

Plans for a community forum

Several Town Meeting members and citizens addressed the Board of Selectmen about their e-bike and related fears at the Nov. 25 meeting. Several selectmen at that meeting said that plans are already underway to hold a public forum early next year with a focus on e-bike safety.

“Ideally, I would like a community forum comprised of all stakeholders including public officials, Board of Selectmen, School Committee, Town meeting members, state delegation, public safety personnel, parents, students and anyone else who would like to join,” Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said.

“My preference for timing would be January, if not February so we can explore and research options and have any items implemented before spring, when the E bikes will be back in large numbers,” Cicolini said.

“There are many town officials who have done a lot of legwork and research on the matter already, Mark Bell is one who deserves recognition. I am very appreciative of the data he has put together and shared to help get the ball rolling,” he said.

“I have had numerous conversations with our chief of police. The department has the appetite to implement measures that will result in public safety and discourage the use of E-bikes in an unsafe manner on our streets.”

Board of Selectman Chair Debra Panetta said this week she has already begun planning for the upcoming forum. No date has been set yet. “I have contacted the School Committee Chairman, Principal Carla Scuzzarella, the Town Manager, the Police Chief, and plan on discussing this with the Saugus Business Education Collaborative,” Panetta told The Saugus Advocate.

“This is an issue in all communities, not just Saugus. I would hope students and parents will attend, where it is important that everyone gains a better understanding of the dangers of riding e-bikes and scooters,” she said.

“We will need to review the laws and safety concerns with the residents. Many students are not wearing helmets, which is problematic. In fact, many students just have their helmets hanging off their safety bars. I hope that with this education and additional enforcement that we can avoid accidents.”

Panetta said she’s troubled by some of the things she’s personally observed. “What I noticed was the number of students not wearing helmets, which is very concerning. Sometimes there are two students on the same motorized bicycle where neither one of them is wearing a helmet, and they’re going very fast,” she said.

 

The Saugus Public School strategy

Several School Committee members interviewed by The Saugus Advocate said school officials have begun discussion on steps the schools and the school district can take for public safety’s sake. “The School Department has been proactive in addressing this situation since the beginning of the school year,” School Committee Chair Thomas Whittredge said.

“The Middle/High School has sent multiple emails to parents and students outlining expectations, rules, and safety guidelines for e-bikes. We also have schoolwide assemblies planned, hosted by the ‘Safe Routes to School’ group,” Whittredge said.

“The overall message is clear: be smart, be safe, and be responsible — or e-bikes will no longer be permitted on school property. While forums and assemblies are important, the reality is that without active parent involvement, our message will not reach the students who need to hear it most,” he said.

Meanwhile, Saugus Middle High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella said school officials have seen an uptick in the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and mopeds, along with regular bikes and scooters. “Our bike racks were overflowing all fall. Now that the weather has turned colder we are seeing less of these vehicles. With that said, the motorized vehicles are a safety concern for us as the students are not as careful as we want them to be, especially with the heavy traffic around the building in the morning and afternoon,” Scuzzarella said.

“We added a section to this year’s Student Handbook about students riding bikes, scooters, etc. to school. This paragraph reminds students to wear a helmet, follow the rules of the road, etc. I sent a detailed email home in late September urging parents/guardians to remind students to use caution when riding motorized vehicles to school,” Scuzzarella said. “We specifically reminded students and families about walking the scooters and bikes when on school property, and not weaving in and out of the traffic. We told families that students who do not operate their vehicles safely may lose the privilege of bringing the bike/scooter to school. When I send messages home to families, I usually put a reminder about bike/scooter safety at the end of the message.”

The Saugus Middle High School will be hosting assemblies after the new year begins for all grade levels regarding bike/scooter safety. Safe Routes to School will be speaking to the students, according to Scuzzarella. “We are trying to educate our students regarding safe use of the vehicles, but the school can only do so much. Once the students leave our property I don’t really have any jurisdiction,” she said. “As the saying goes, ‘it takes a village.’ Clearly this is a community concern so maybe getting the community involved and all on the same page can make a difference in keeping our kids safe.”

Here’s what five other town and school officials shared about their safety concerns:

 

Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Anthony Cogliano

“As someone who uses the rail trail on a daily basis, I’m amazed no one has been killed flying through the intersections without even thinking about stopping. Half the kids don’t even bother to wear helmets.

“I get a good look at it as I walk four to six miles a day, everyday, all around our town. We all need to work together on this one: Police, School Committee and the Board of Selectmen to figure this dangerous situation out. Sooner than later too.”

 

Selectman Michael Serino

“I have received many comments from residents regarding E-bikes on our streets and associated safety concerns such as people not even using the flashing light when crossing our roads while walking the rail-trail. I have reviewed the video that the North Andover Police Department has released as a public service announcement which I thought was helpful and is worth discussing.

“Regarding any E-bike road violations in Andover, the department has set up an in-house data bank. The first offense they take the operator’s name, date of birth and contact their parents. A second offense results in a $ 150.00 fine and impounding the bike for 15 days.

“However, a lot of kids are under 16 and probably do not fully understand the rules of the road. Therefore, I believe education should first be the first step to road safety in our community. I look forward to participating in the forum.”

 

Selectman Frank Federico

“After hearing from several families and community members, I spoke with Chairwoman Panetta about the idea of holding a joint meeting with the School Committee. My goal was to show that we are fully vested in the safety of our students and schools, as much as the charter allows us to be. Through our discussions, we agreed that E-bikes and E-scooters were the right topic for this joint meeting, given how directly this issue affects kids.

“From there, others recommended reaching out to our state delegation, which I think is an excellent idea, especially as we look for guidance, support, and potential statewide consistency. At the same time, I started to learn that many people in town had already begun researching this issue on their own. A lot of the new Town Meeting members in particular have really taken the initiative to dig into the laws, the data, and what other communities are doing.

“Seeing that level of interest and effort makes me optimistic. We have so many new voices, new perspectives, and motivated individuals entering Town Meeting this year. With that kind of energy and collaboration, I am confident we can work together to develop a solid and effective plan for Saugus, one that protects our kids, our pedestrians, and our motorists, and sets an example for other communities to follow.

“I believe the most effective approach is one that combines education with clear consequences and consistent enforcement. If we educate riders and establish responsible, enforceable guidelines, the vast majority will use their e-bikes and scooters safely. We’re in a transitional period right now. This is new technology, and we’re in that window where there’s little regulation or statewide enforcement. That’s exactly why starting now matters.

“My main concern, now and always, is public safety. These newly popular forms of transportation pose risks not only to the riders themselves but also to pedestrians and motorists. As their use grows, so does the potential for serious accidents, especially when there are no clear guidelines or consistent enforcement in place.

“We’re seeing kids and teenagers riding at high speeds, often without helmets, and sometimes in areas where drivers aren’t expecting them. At the same time, motorists and pedestrians are suddenly sharing space with fast, quiet vehicles they may not see coming. That combination creates situations where one mistake can lead to a preventable tragedy.

“That’s why it’s so important that we take a proactive approach, educating riders, setting reasonable rules, and ensuring safety is at the center of every decision we make. If we take action now, we can reduce risks, protect our community, and make sure these new technologies are integrated safely into our town.”

 

School Committee Member Joseph “Dennis” Gould

“I go to Saugus MSHS every weekday to bring my granddaughter to school and pick her up so I see the E-bikes and scooters every day. I have spoken to several of the MSHS students that use the E-bikes and scooters and they all have told me they feel safe most of the time because they use sidewalks when available.

“The rules in place by Dr Scuzzarella for MSHS are for the safety of the students and the vast majority comply while on school grounds. Like most rules, there will always be the small percentage of students who do not comply but on school grounds that is a small number.

“My biggest concern is for the students who do not use sidewalks, ride in the middle of the streets, swerve in and out of cars, do not use signals to turn or ignore traffic signs on the roads.

“Although the rules and regulations for E-bikes and scooters usage on public roadways is the Selectmen responsibility, since most E-bike and scooter usage is done by students, I absolutely agree with collaborative effort with School Committee, Selectmen and Department of Safety to come up with regulations for the public ways combined with School District properties that would enhance student and citizen safety.

“This same collaborative group should also review traffic studies, traffic flow and parking around School properties to come up with traffic flows and parking to also enhance student safety and assist local residents that are impacted the most by the same.”

 

School Committee Member Shannon McCarthy

“I am glad to see so many people in the community getting involved and looking for ways to solve the E-bike problem. To be very frank, I am not sure that a forum is the answer. In my opinion a forum is kicking the can down the road and prolonging the actions that we need to be taking now as more and more children are being hurt daily on these bikes.

“As a school, we have partnered with Safe Routes to Schools and they will be providing education, have done a traffic study and are working directly with each building head. The principals have sent out communication around safe use of E-bikes on school grounds and will enforce unsafe use if seen, but ultimately the school can only do so much if the whole of the town is not enforcing it when the kids are not on school property.

“As a town, we need to be enforcing the rules that are in place or looking for new ways to create more guidelines around the use of E-bikes.

“Ultimately, until we make it uncomfortable for people who are not following the rules and enforcing the traffic laws around e bikes nothing will change.

“So, if anything needs to come from a forum, it is fast acting ways we can implement or create regulations around the use and repercussions of misuse with E-bikes in our town.”