The Marblehead Traffic Safety Advisory Committee continued its discussion of e-bike safety in its monthly meeting on Dec. 15.
“Everyone sees this as an issue,” said TSAC Chair Rick Smyers. “Pretty consistently, people recognize that e-bikes, when used improperly, can be a risk.”
Concerns around electric bicycles have mounted in recent weeks after a 13 year old died crashing his e-bike into a car in Stoneham and a Hamilton woman was hospitalized after the horse she was riding was spooked by an e-bike. The horse had to be put down.
“When young people are on bikes, they don’t understand the bike laws in general,” said Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King. “When you add unlimited power and you don’t slow down, it’s a recipe for disaster.”
While Smyers acknowledged the benefits of electric bicycles, he noted that “many of the kids who are riding e-bikes these days in Marblehead are not even street legal. They’re [motorized bicycles] that can go 40-50 miles per hour.”
While TSAC and MPD released an e-bike safety statement last month, Smyers implored parents to be more cautious when purchasing one of the vehicles.
“To the parents, don’t buy your kids bikes that can go that fast,” said Smyers. “It’s just not safe.”
King added that many of the e-bikes being ridden by children are actually considered motorized bicycles which require the user to be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s licence or learner’s permit to operate.
No e-bike vote at Town Meeting
The committee chose to table the proposal of a bylaw surrounding e-bikes until the Commonwealth’s Special Commission on Micromobility finalized their report at the end of next month.
Other points of discussion for TSAC were the installation of flashing pedestrian beacons at the following intersections: West Shore drive and Jersey streets, Atlantic Avenue and Smith S
Street, and Lafayette Street near Birch Street. Additional signs are planned along Atlantic Avenue at Gerry Street and the Jewish Community Center as well as near Tedesco Country Club.
Town Engineer Maggie Wheeler announced a plan for a sidewalk reprofiling project along Pleasant Street between Hewitt Gerry streets. The project will add eight-10 new ADA sidewalk ramps in the area.
DPW Director Amy McHugh also announced that the town is under contract to implement the blue light snow emergency system. Eight lights will be placed in locations around town and will become the primary system to alert the public of a snow emergency situation.
The next TSAC meeting is set for Jan. 12, 4 p.m. at Abbot Hall.
