Coronado Launches Bicycle Safety Clinics for Youth

Categories: CharityCommunityEvents/What's HappeningNews

Children learn important safety practices during the Coronado bicycle safety clinic.

News Summary

Coronado is taking proactive steps to enhance bicycle and e-bike safety through upcoming Bike Rodeos in May. Organized by the City, Coronado Unified School District, and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, these clinics aim to educate students on safe riding practices. Emphasizing e-bike safety amid rising concerns, the initiative invites all students to participate, regardless of their mode of transport. The Coronado City Council is also considering new regulations to improve safety, highlighting the importance of community engagement in addressing e-bike-related issues.

Coronado is gearing up for a proactive approach to bicycle and e-bike safety, with three bicycle safety clinics known as Bike Rodeos scheduled for May. The initiative, a collaborative effort between the City of Coronado, the Coronado Unified School District (CUSD), and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, is designed to educate students and their parents on safe riding practices. All students are invited to participate, regardless of their choice of transport, which can include bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, or skateboards.

The Bike Rodeos will place a significant emphasis on e-bike safety, addressing increasing concerns surrounding their usage among youth and the community. Participants will have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the rules of the road, register their bikes, and enter raffle contests designed to enhance engagement and safety awareness.

As part of the city’s broader efforts to address safety, the Coronado City Council is set to adopt new regulations focusing on e-bikes. These regulations aim to improve safety for both riders and pedestrians by proposing a ban on e-bikes from sidewalks and other pedestrian-heavy areas, such as Paseo Lawn, the boardwalk near Coronado Shores, and the promenade adjacent to Glorietta Bay Marina. If approved, this ban will take effect in January 2025.

The rise in popularity of e-bikes and similar motorized mobility devices within the city has raised several safety concerns among residents. A troubling finding has been the consistent rate of e-bike collisions since 2021, with reports indicating that 72% of these incidents stem from operator errors, largely attributed to excessive speeds.

To combat these growing safety issues, the City has launched an e-bike safety campaign titled “E-Bike and B-Safe”, which aims to promote safer riding practices among users. The campaign underscores the importance of education and responsible riding, particularly for younger bicycle users. A proposal regarding these new e-bike policies is scheduled for discussion before the City Council on November 19, with the final reading set for December 19. If passed, the regulations will be adopted 30 days later.

Among the upcoming rules, one significant proposal includes prohibiting riders under the age of 12 from using e-bikes under a pilot program, which takes effect in 2025. This initiative aligns with Assembly Bill 2234, which empowers local governments to enforce such bans based on age-specific safety measures. Alongside these regulations, the City Council is exploring potential partnerships with CUSD to establish programs for students who commute via e-bike. These programs could consist of safety courses and bike registration efforts aimed at enhancing community awareness and compliance.

The recommendations from the e-bike task force reflect the urgent nature of traffic safety issues. Suggestions include the enforcement of speed limits for e-bike riders and procedures for impounding bikes that violate safety regulations. As part of the city’s commitment to promoting responsible e-bike use, police have issued a total of 162 warnings and 23 citations for violations related to e-bikes. Many of these enforcement actions have recognized responsible riding behaviors among youth, incentivizing good practices in the community.

Public discussions regarding the surge in e-bike ownership have highlighted several concerns, particularly the reckless riding behaviors observed among younger riders. The upcoming Bike Rodeos are expected to provide a platform for addressing these issues, enhancing safety education, and fostering a culture of responsible riding within the community. As Coronado continues to evolve its safety measures, engagement in these clinics may prove essential for ensuring the well-being of all residents, particularly those who share road spaces.