Children 12 years old and under in La Mesa will soon be prohibited from riding electric bikes that can reach or exceed 20 miles per hour within city limits.On May 12, the La Mesa City Council passed a pilot program aiming to reduce injuries and increase pedestrian and traffic safety.La Mesa now joins Poway, Chula Vista, Carlsbad and Santee on the list of cities in San Diego County to adopt regulations to place age restrictions on e-bikes.Several La Mesa residents spoke on the issue during the council hearing.Some residents spoke out in opposition to the ordinance, claiming a ban only punishes responsible riders and dissuades them from riding bicycles.“This is led by confusion and fear, and that leads to bad policy,” said resident Joseph Cryer during public comment. “This is a ban based on age, not behavior.”
Cryer went on to cite studies that showed that cyclists on traditional bikes were nine times more at risk of injury than those on e-bikes.Not all residents agreed.La Mesa firefighter, Dominic Provence, said he has seen far too many injured young people for him not to speak out against the rising number of young e-bike riders.
“I have seen the devastation that motor vehicle collisions can do to a human body,” said Provence. “I have held deceased children in my arms after these incidents, and I am still haunted by the screams of parents learning that their children will not come home.”Added Provence, “This may not be a perfect ordinance, as some of us have talked about this evening, but the intent is clear at the end of the day — it is about injury prevention and protecting the well-being of our children, our families, and the public here in La Mesa.”The majority of councilmembers and the mayor agreed, however, with some provisions.The council asked to revisit the pilot program in a year to see what, if anything, state legislators pass into law. The council also asked city staff to work with bicycling organizations such as the San Diego Bike Coalition to organize safety courses for riders, set up digital radar devices, boost enforcement, and install bike lanes within a half-mile of all La Mesa schools.“I want us to put our money where our mouth is and really increase safety for riders,” said Mayor Mark Arapostathis.The council passed the ordinance in a 4-to-1 vote, with city council member Laura Lothian the only one opposed. The city can begin enforcing the new ordinance in 60 days.
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