SAUGUS — With the use of e-bikes growing in town and across Massachusetts, a discussion was held at the recent Board of Selectmen meeting about the safety of minors and the need for education on this mode of transportation.
It’s important to note that the Board took a strong stance on the need for education, with Chair Debra Panetta going into detail on what they’ve looked into and discussed so far on the subject.
Alicia Bonito, a new Town Meeting member for Precinct 6, was the first to raise the issue during the meeting by mentioning a program that incentivizes e-bike (electric bike) use through the state of Massachusetts.
Bonito said she believes this is important information, as the town and state wait for an updated state regulation on e-bikes that limits people at the local level.
“Mass Clean Energy Center is part of a program to reduce growth in vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse emissions. Through this program, applicants can receive vouchers that range from $800 to $1,200 for an ebike,” she said.
Participants must be 18 to apply; no driver’s license is required, and it is a random selection.
“The reason I bring this up is to show the state’s stance on e-bikes. It is in congruence with the Mass Clean Energy plan for 2025 through 2030… This may explain why the state has not created legislation on this matter previously. That’s what I can speculate,” Bontito said.
She is hoping that the town can implement solutions at the local level and not wait for the state to solve the problem “to protect minors from the next tragic accident.”
Rick Fail, an e-bike user, also approached the podium, noting that there was a serious issue with minors using e-bikes. Fail said he wanted to discuss the possibility of creating an e-bike committee or board.
“I know that there are several conversations through town right now regarding forums, regarding training. … I’ve read the laws. I’ve looked at them repeatedly. They do contradict themselves in many ways. But one law that I want to stand up and preach is the fact that anyone under the age of 16 is not allowed to ride an electric bike on public streets,” Fail said.
He also noted that anyone riding a bike or scooter must wear a helmet at all times, as required by law.
“We need to do something immediately. Now’s a good time. We have the winter to work on it,” he said.
Fail said he would like to see a community forum with the state legislature to see action taken.
Panetta noted that the Board is looking into this.
Another new Town Meeting member from Precinct 6, Elizabeth Marchese, addressed the matter, highlighting the need for education and enforcement.
“I think we probably shouldn’t be waiting for that delegation. We should probably be proactive in some kind of approach,” Marchese said.
She said that Precinct 1 Town Meeting member Mark Bell had forwarded the Board a video showing what Andover is doing regarding the e-bike issue. Selectman Mike Serino commented that he had looked at the video and agreed it had “a lot of good information.”
Marchese asked that Town Meeting members be involved in the educational forum that will eventually take place.
“We’d love to be considered in this all-town think-tank to try to deal with the issues of minors operating on public ways with e-bikes,” she said. “It’s not necessarily the adults. What we’re looking at right now is the safety of our minor children.”
Town Manager Scott Crabtree agreed that education and enforcement were important.
“I think that you need to have a sort of education, and I think enforcement,” he said.
Panetta said the Board was planning to bring this up during members’ motions and that she has spoken with Saugus Middle High School Principal Carla Scuzzarella, who recently sent a letter to parents about the safety issues posed by e-bikes and the penalties that would apply.
She added that she reached out to Scuzzarella and the School Committee about a forum being organized. She noted that she has conversed with all the Board members and Crabtree about this, and they’ve all reached out to different people.
“We’ve been doing research about what we should do and what would be the best time to have this forum. …This Board heard loud and clear through campaign night as we were all sitting here that that was one of the big issues,” she said.
Panetta stated that she has seen children driving with helmets just hanging from the handlebars, which she found “very troubling.”
“Everyone should be involved. … Everybody who wants to be involved with some sort of education,” she said. Panetta said it needs to be a combination of education and enforcement.
Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said it is imperative to involve the schools.
“There are schools that have actually banned the bikes from being on school property. … Little things like that, coupled with enforcement on roadways, I feel like could go a long way. Honestly, I agree with the previous speaker. Maybe we’re the ones who are going to try and set the standard,” he said.
Cicolini said he does not want to wait until a child in Saugus gets killed.
“I spoke to the chief (Michael Ricciardelli) quite extensively on several occasions. I think we need to come to a common ground on what’s reasonable,” he said.
Crabtree said that one idea might be to reach out directly to the kids who own these bikes.
Selectman Frank Federico said, “I think once we have those consequences set in place, they’re going to start self-policing themselves. Right now, I don’t think that they see any consequences, so they’re not afraid of anything.”
He continued that he’d like to start with education and see the consequences there for kids who don’t follow the guidelines given.
