DALTON, Mass. — The warmer months have come to an end but town officials are exploring how to ensure safety with the rise of electric bikes for next season. 

 

According to an incident breakdown provided by the Police Department, between the beginning of July and the end of November, there were 33 complaints regarding e-bike usage; these included one accident, one motor vehicle stop, and nine conversations.

 

Police Chief Deanna Strout explained that a majority of the incidents are with youth who do not have a driver's license, which makes enforcement difficult because citations have to be tied to a license.

 

"We're just worried that there's going to be a tragedy," she said, highlighting the social media outreach the department has done to address the situation. 

 

The underlying issue is that the kids riding these vehicles lack road safety education. A lot of them are 9 to 12 years old and don't know the rules of the road, Strout said.

 

"I did talk to one of the bike shops, and they're working on putting together a safety course so we can try to educate because I think that's the best way to do it, is educating parents and kids," she said during a recent Traffic Commission meeting. 

 

During a November Select Board meeting, Strout said the department has had two e-bike crashes not resulting in serious injuries, one where a child got hit by a car and one where an adult got hit by a car. 

 

"Obviously we want kids out riding bikes and being outside and engaging in activities like that, but we also want them to be safe," she said at a Traffic Commission meeting.

 

"And we don't want our residents to be alarmed and upset because someone almost hit them or almost caused them to crash. So, it's definitely been an issue." 

 

Current laws do not allow officers to cite parents because they are not the operator, Strout said.

 

There are currently two types of electric bicycles: pedal-assisted and throttle-assisted, both with top speeds of less than 20 mph. In Massachusetts anything going over 20 mph is considered a motor vehicle requiring full registration and licensing.

 

"It becomes a higher level if it exceeds 20 miles an hour. So, the engine is supposed to cut off at 20 mph," said Sgt. Tyler Miller, depending on the terrain the vehicles can go faster but the motor tops at 20 mph.

 

It was demonstrated by a committee member that there is a way to remove that restriction by tampering with the bike. 

 

However, it is difficult to identify the bikes that can go faster without radar and kids tend to behave when they see officers around, Miller said.

 

These vehicles are also very accessible, easily being bought online without state restrictions or product regulations. Additionally, they do not have serial numbers or other identifying marks, he said. 

 

"Then on top of that, they're on bikes. I personally had one leaving a [Wahconah Regional High School] football game one night, driving that up old Windsor Road, no lights in the middle of the road, and as soon as I turn my blue lights on, they can go right through private property. They can cut through yards. I can't follow them in a cruiser. So it's really become an educational to parents type thing," Miller said.

 

The Traffic Commission discussed several options to inform the public such as using CodeRed to send out a message. 

 

Committee Chair William Drosehn III also asked about the possibility of bringing back bike patrols. 

 

Strout praised bike patrols, highlighting how she loved the experience when she was an officer and demonstrated its value in public relations and community engagement as officers are more accessible and approachable on bikes compared to patrol cars. 

 

The department still has the bikes and all that is needed is some minor maintenance. Additionally, the department would need some officers to agree to receive training, as Strout said she believes she is the only officer in the department with bike patrol training. 

 

There was a training a couple months back but no officers volunteered to take it. Strout cannot force them to get it because it is outside their regular duties and union contracts. However, she is going to ask if any officers are interested in the spring. 

 

"I think the other thing that towns should really consider, and it's something a fair number of towns in Connecticut are doing, is to add cycling to the fourth grade curriculum, because so many kids today do not grow up cycling," Town Manager Eric Anderson said.

 

During the warmer months, Central Berkshire Regional School district agreed to send out an informational message to parents every Wednesday to inform parents of legal directives and other material, Strout said.

 

"I guarantee you they would be happy to do that. I've been working closely with them with e-bike issues," she said. 

 

"Like I said, education is the priority, because we certainly want these kids outside enjoying themselves." 

 

Select Board member Antonio "Tony" Pagliarulo, who attended the commission meeting, said he spoke to the school superintendent about the issue, which resulted in a message being sent to parents stating "e-bikes are not allowed on school grounds." 

 

Strout said she did not see a reduction in incidents following this ban. 

 

Miller, who serves as the department's DARE officer, integrated e-bike safety education into the DARE program to teach students about traffic rules, safe riding, and responsibilities when using bikes.

 

Pagliarulo advocated for the development of an e-bike bylaw, which would set guidelines and enforceable penalties. 

 

"I don't think it'll be unreasonable, and I don't see the state picking up the mantle, let alone the consumer protection agency at the federal level," he said.

 

He did acknowledge that any bylaw would have to also align with existing state classifications or legal language.

 

He highlighted Agawam's bylaw, which requires operators and passengers to wear helmets and restricts the operation of e-bikes on sidewalks or in a reckless manner that endangers the safety of operators, passengers, pedestrians or motorists. 

 

The regulation also has restrictions surrounding operations, passengers, and tampering. It also includes a $50 fine for violations.