By City Manager Ken Striplin
As parents, we want to give our children the tools they need to make good decisions and stay safe. Now that students are back in school, many young riders are using bikes and e-bikes to get to class, meet up with friends or travel around their neighborhoods. But no matter what they ride, one of their most important safety tools isn’t attached to the bike. It is good judgment, awareness and making smart decisions while riding.
With Santa Clarita’s extensive network of trails, paseos and bike-friendly infrastructure, young riders have plenty of opportunities to get around our community on two wheels. Riding offers independence, exercise and a convenient way for young people to get around. We also need to pay attention to how our children are riding, where they are going and the habits they are developing.
One easy way to start the conversation is to remember one word: SAFE.
S: Secure your helmet.
Before the wheels start moving, the helmet goes on. It should fit properly, sit level on the head and be securely fastened.
A: Allow extra time to stop.
Speed changes everything. The faster someone is riding, the less time they have to react when a car pulls out of a driveway, a pedestrian steps onto a paseo or another cyclist slows unexpectedly. Riders should watch their speed, leave space between themselves and others and slow down anywhere conditions can change quickly.
F: Follow the rules of the road.
Stop signs and traffic signals apply to cyclists, too. Riders should travel predictably, signal before turning, yield when required and slow down at intersections and crossings.
E: Eyes up, distractions down.
A phone, text message or pair of earbuds can take attention away at exactly the wrong moment. Riders need to see and hear what is happening around them. They should put their phones away, keep their eyes ahead and pay attention to other vehicles and pedestrians.
If your child rides an e-bike, there is another important question to consider: Do you know what they are riding?
E-bike classes have different requirements, and modifications that increase speed or power may cause a bike to no longer meet the legal definition of an e-bike. High-powered electric motorcycles are not e-bikes and are not permitted for youth to ride on City streets, trails or paseos. Families can learn more about e-bike classifications, riding requirements and legal equipment at BikeSantaClarita.com/Ebikes.
Residents can also help address repeated illegal e-motorcycle activity. The City’s Resident Service Center, or RSC, includes an E-Motorcycles request option that allows residents to provide a location and details about the activity without confronting the rider. That information can then be routed to the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station for appropriate follow-up. Residents can submit a request online at SantaClarita.gov/RSC or download the City’s RSC app to report concerns directly from a mobile device.
Safe riding begins with simple habits and involved parents. Before your child heads out, take a moment to ask where they are going, what they are riding and whether they are ready to ride SAFE.
Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.
