Law enforcement agencies across Stanislaus County say they are responding to a growing number of crashes, complaints and dangerous riding involving e-bikes and other motorized two-wheel vehicles. The activity has prompted increased enforcement, safety education and discussions about potential policy changes.
Police officials in Modesto, Ceres, Turlock and other communities in the county told The Bee they have seen a rise in unsafe riding behavior in recent years, with many of the incidents involving juveniles. Common complaints include riders running stop signs and red lights, riding against traffic, weaving among vehicles, performing wheelies, riding without helmets and operating high-powered electric motorcycles commonly mistaken for e-bikes.
Transportation researchers say the trend is being seen well beyond Stanislaus County. But they also caution that many crashes attributed to “e-bikes” may actually involve vehicles that do not meet California’s legal definition of an electric bicycle…