Santa Barbara County leaders address e-bike safety

Local leaders in Santa Barbara County have convened a regional e-bike safety roundtable to address rising concerns regarding speed, unsafe riding, and conflicts between e-bikes, pedestrians, and vehicles. The meeting included representatives from law enforcement, public health, school districts, and transportation agencies. The group identified four primary areas for collaborative action: education, infrastructure, enforcement, and legislative change.

In a related development to manage student e-bike use, a new platform called Safe Ride Schools has been launched to assist middle and high schools with registration and safety compliance. The system allows students to register bike details, complete online safety lessons, and obtain QR-code campus parking permits. The platform aims to replace manual paper-based tracking with a digital dashboard for administrators to monitor training and permit activity. The company is currently offering a 90-day pilot program to school districts.