City of Santa Rosa, CA, CivicReady Public Safety Alerts & Notifications
SRPD News Release: Smart Wheels, Safe Habits: How to Ride E-Bikes the Right Way
Smart Wheels, Safe Habits: How to Ride E-bikes the Right Way
Thinking about gifting your child an e-bike? Great! E-bikes can be fun, efficient, and empowering—but only when used responsibly. Here’s how young riders can stay safe and follow the rules:
✅ 1. Helmets are required
Despite legal requirements, many kids skip helmets or wear them improperly. They protect against serious injuries, so make sure it fits properly and is worn correctly every ride.
✅ 2. Stick to Safe Speeds
Ride at speeds appropriate for your age and experience. Avoid modifying e-bikes to go faster than intended—it’s unsafe and illegal.
✅ 3. Follow Traffic Rules
E-bikes give young riders freedom and independence, but with that comes responsibility. Stop at red lights, signal turns, ride with traffic, and yield to pedestrians. Respect the road and others on it.
✅ 4. Choose the Right Class of E-bike
Class 3 e-bikes are for riders 16 and older. Know the rules and pick a bike that matches your child’s age and skill level. We included a classification chart to help you decide which bike is right.
✅ 5. Use Proper Lights and Reflectors
Especially at night or in low visibility, missing safety features like lights and reflectors make riders harder to see and more vulnerable to accidents.
✅ 6. Stay Focused and Ride Smart
Avoid distractions like phones or earbuds. Encourage your child to stay alert, ride defensively, and make smart decisions on the road.
Parents play a critical role in keeping young riders safe. Choosing the right class of e-bike for your child’s age and experience and making sure your child understands how to ride responsibly is key. Talk to them about helmet use, traffic rules, and the risks of speed and distraction. A little guidance goes a long way in preventing serious injuries and keeping our streets safe for everyone!
The Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) has partnered with Santa Rosa City Schools to distribute educational materials to students and families about safe e-bike use. At the same time, the SRPD Traffic Bureau is conducting focused enforcement to promote safe riding—educating young riders and issuing citations when necessary. Keeping our youth safe on e-bikes is a shared responsibility. It takes police, schools, families, and the entire community working together to build a culture of safety, awareness, and accountability on our streets.
#KnowYourClass #EbikeEducation #SRPD #RideSmartSantaRosa #HelmetUp
Prepared by Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, pseffens@srcity.org
