Petaluma police are warning about the dangers of e-bikes after two crashes in one week — one on an electric bicycle, the other on an electric motorcycle — sent juvenile riders to the hospital in separate incidents.
Officers responded to the first incident on Wednesday, Jan. 7, following a collision involving an e-bike and a parked car near Casa Grande High School, according to a Petaluma Police Department social media post.
The officers’ investigation indicated that two juveniles were riding unsafely on a single e-bike when they collided with the parked car. One of the riders was injured and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The incident remained under investigation.
A second incident, shown briefly in a video clip on the Petaluma Police Department’s Facebook page, also led to an injury after two juveniles were seen riding recklessly on an e-motorcycle through Petaluma streets on Sunday, Jan. 11.
According to police, the youths were seen running stop signs near East Washington Place a little before 5 p.m., with one juvenile steering and the other seated on the rear of the bike. Neither wore helmets.
“When officers attempted a traffic stop, the juvenile sped through another stop sign and was nearly struck by an oncoming vehicle,” police said.
After hitting a speed bump, the driver lost control and crashed, police said. Although the passenger was not injured, the driver was taken to Petaluma Valley Hospital with minor injuries. The e-motorcycle was confiscated.
“We are grateful that both the driver and passenger are OK, but reckless riding, especially around vehicles and pedestrians, could very easily end in tragedy,” police stated.
The juvenile steering the bike in that incident was cited for multiple violations, including reckless driving, driving without a license or proof of insurance, riding without a helmet and for “passenger not properly seated,” police said. They added that “Electric motorcycles are off-road vehicles and are not legal to operate on public streets, sidewalks, parking lots, or shopping centers.”
The crashes prompted Petaluma police to again warn parents of the dangers of electric two-wheeled vehicles, emphasizing that riders must obey all traffic laws including speed limits and right-of-way rules, that helmets are required for all riders under 18 and that juveniles should only operate e-bikes that are legal for their age and classification, among other tips.
“Parents are strongly urged to reconsider purchasing these vehicles for their children or to allow them to be ridden in public spaces,” police said. “Juveniles operating these vehicles face serious safety risks, and parents may be held financially and legally responsible for violations, injuries, or property damage.”
