CALIFORNIA, USA — The Folsom Police Department is sounding the alarm on e-scooters and e-bikes, which have ballooned in popularity in recent years.
The department has posted flyers to educate families about the rules of the road they might not know. Despite many young people riding these motorized devices around town and sometimes even to school, the California Vehicle Code states that those who ride e-scooters, defined by having an electronic motor, floorboard and handlebars, must have a valid driver’s license or a learner's permit. Anyone under 18 must also wear a helmet.
Class 3 E-Bikes, motorized bicycles that can reach speeds of 28 miles per hour, also require a license.
“I don’t think most people are aware of that, so really before you go and purchase one of these things, do your homework, understand what it’s going to take so that your child isn’t liable and what safety measures you need to take as well,” Folsom Police Officer Matt Stone said.
Police also remind e-scooter riders to not exceed 15 miles per hour. Lime, and other scooter-renting companies, set 15 mph as the maximum speed on their sharable devices.
Another rule to keep in mind is that e-scooters are allowed in the bike lane but not on the sidewalk. Riding with a passenger on an e-scooter is also forbidden.
Violating any of this can result in a fine of up to $250, but Folsom PD says their focus right now is on raising awareness.
“We’re seeing that a lot of middle schoolers and even elementary school kids have these devices, which are great tools with helping parents with the commute, at the same time though, we want to make sure they’re getting to school safely,” Stone said. “We’re not putting these limitations out there to be the bad guy. It’s so that they’re safe because it’s not just them, it’s pedestrians. We don’t want these kids getting hit by a car. We’ve already seen it happen and we don’t want that to happen.”
Other parts of the state face the same challenges. Last year, UCLA conducted a study that found the rate of e-scooter injuries in Los Angeles surpassed the national rate of motorcycle injuries.
Cities like Huntington Beach passed an ordinance for police officers to issue tickets and even impound these devices if riders use them improperly. A fine for a first-time offense is $150.
