On Oct. 22, 2025, the Atherton City Council adopted a resolution to lower the speed limit on Valparaiso Avenue from 30 mph to 25 mph. The decision came after a September accident on Valparaiso during high-traffic school morning commute hours, where a Menlo-Atherton High School student riding an e-bike was injured.
Valparaiso is a major road at the border of Menlo Park and Atherton. Menlo sits on the east end of the street, and Sacred Heart Prep is within walking distance; the proximity of the two schools creates heavy traffic every morning. According to Public Works Director at City of Menlo Park Azalea Mitch, the decision to reduce the Valparaiso speed limit was part of an ongoing effort by the Town of Atherton and the City of Menlo Park to ensure community safety. “Since last year, we have made a focused effort to reduce speed limits throughout Menlo Park as the law allows for safety reasons,” she said.
Menlo Park public schools have also unanimously banned students from riding Class II and Class III e-bikes on school grounds since Nov. 13. The schools will lock any e-bikes found on their property and report the student to Menlo Park law enforcement. Beyond emailed instructions to avoid the area and exercise caution after the accident, Menlo currently has no e-bike-specific restrictions in place…