With the increasing popularity of E-bikes on local roadways, the city of Goleta is drawing attention to E-bike safety by designating the week of Jan. 21-25 as E-Bike Safety Awareness Week.
During this third consecutive year of E-Bike Safety Awareness Week, the following activities are planned:
- Tuesday, Jan. 21, 5:30 p.m. the Goleta City Council will issue a proclamation for E-Bike Safety Awareness Week to MOVE Santa Barbara County.
- Throughout the week, MOVE representatives and city staff will be at several local schools conducting E-Bike Safety Awareness outreach activities.
The city thanks Goleta Valley Junior High, and Dos Pueblos and San Marcos high schools for partnering to make students more aware of what they need to do to be safe while riding an e-bike.
A resource for all E-bike riders is the California Highway Patrol’s online e-bike safety and training program required by AB 1946 to provide information on safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road, and laws related to e-bikes.
The program features tutorials, videos, a quiz and other interactive elements.
Every year there are e-bike related crashes with serious injuries and even fatalities. According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), there were more than 9,600 bicycle-involved crashes in California in 2022, 225 of which involved an e-bike (an increase over 80 the prior year) and four of which resulted in fatal injuries.
Following a steps e-bike riders can take to increase safety:
• Check your battery, brakes, chain, and tire pressure before you ride.
• Wear a helmet and visible clothing whether you are a rider or passenger.
• Watch your speed by riding slowly and respectfully on multi-use paths or where pedestrians are present.
• Ride predictably, using hand signals and keeping eye contact to communicate your movements with other vehicles.
• Avoid texting, talking on the phone, or listening to loud music while riding.
• Obey traffic signs, signals, and roadway laws just as cars are required to.