Orange County has been leading the state (and in some ways the nation) with its aggressive stance against unsafe electric bicycle and electric motorcycle use lately. Citing a spike in injuries and at least one pedestrian death, officials in the politically and economically mixed coastal Southern California county have vowed to crack down on young riders who unsafely operate the often fast-moving two-wheeled vehicles – and, in some instances, to arrest their parents, too.
Now the county is preparing for what may be its most unique plan yet: a gun-style buyback program of “unwanted e-bikes, pocket bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos,” per the office of District Attorney Todd Spitzer. Like the more common gun and weapons buyback plans that occur across America, community members can turn in unwanted electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles in exchange for gift cards – no questions asked.
Considered by many to be the first of its kind in the nation, Orange County’s e-bike and e-moto buyback program is part marketing effort and part safety initiative. “These vehicles are not child’s play, and the consequences are incredibly dangerous and increasingly deadly,” DA Spitzer says in a news release for the Sept. 13 event in Anaheim. “We are doing everything we can to protect people and save lives. I want these illegal and illegally modified vehicles off our streets and out of the hands of riders who have no business riding them.”…