Bristol Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III has issued a safety warning about the dangers of e-bikes and e-scooters after recent fatal accidents involving children in the Philadelphia region.
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DiGuiseppe said he has personally witnessed e-bikes and e-scooters being operated unsafely by local kids and teenagers.
“I see people going 15 plus miles an hour on an e-bike or a scooter with no helmet flying through the intersection of Pond and Jefferson,” the mayor said. “Most of them are not even legal on a public roadway.”
E-bikes and scooters have grown in popularity as they have become more widely available and prices have dropped.
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“We are just extremely concerned for the safety of these kids,” he said.
In response, the borough plans to share the state’s Micromobility Fact Sheet with residents through its website, social media and local television channel.
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In Pennsylvania, an electric bicycle is considered a vehicle, and a rider must be at least 16 years old to operate one. Helmets are mandatory for riders under 12, and the maximum speed limit is 20 mph.
According to PennDOT, riders must follow the same traffic laws as motor vehicles, but a driver’s license is not required.
“Take a minute to look at the rules and regs and just make sure the kids are doing the right thing when it comes to these e-bikes and these scooters,” DiGuiseppe said.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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The mayor’s announcement comes as Bristol Borough students prepare to return to school.
He urged drivers to exercise caution in school zones and to obey all traffic signals and signs.
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“Please, please, please take your time when driving through the school zones and obey the traffic signals,” the mayor said. “It’s an exciting time for the borough children and the families, but we also need to make sure that you obey the traffic safety and the school zone signs.”
Additionally, DiGuiseppe said the borough will continue to station a police officer in each school building this school year.
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