How wealthy parents decision to spoil their children with dangerous gift tore upscale town apart
An upscale California town is being torn apart by a war over over kids on souped-up e-bikes.
Residents in Fairfax say the $5,000 vehicles are unsafe for children and cause damage to the local ecosystem.
But parents who have splashed out on the pricey bikes argue they are an efficient way for their kids to get around.
While there is a acceptance of traditional s class 1 e-bikes, there is panic over the more powerful class 2 throttle e-bikes, which can reach up to 20mph.
In some cases, the class 2 bikes have been modified further allowing them to reach speeds of up to 41mph, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, far higher than the limit in built-up areas.
Many have expressed fears over the popular Super73 brand bikes which are currently the subject of a lawsuit brought by two parents who claim their bikes exceed the speed limit for micromobility and should be classified as motor vehicles.
'These bikes are not actually bicycles — they're more like mopeds, or even motorcycles,' mom and mountain bike coach Bridget Clark told the San Francisco Chronicle.
She said she frequently sees kids riding the jacked up bikes 'with a drink or cellphone in one hand,' while traveling at speeds not reachable through traditional pedaling.
The upscale California town of Fairfax is being torn apart by a war over over kids on souped-up e-bikes
Mom Bridget Clark is among those who raised concerns over class 2 e-bikes which can far exceed speeds of 20mph
Class 2 throttle e-bikes are typically faster and some modified versions can travel up to 41mph
Tensions were recently ignited by a a dad living near White Hill Middle School who offered to allow kids to stash their bikes in his yard after they were banned from campus as part of district-wide regulations.
Cities in Marin County are passing more regulations by the day largely aimed at prohibiting under 16s from riding e-bikes by introducing a $25 fine for violators.
The class 2 bikes have been banned from schools while those using class 1 e-bikes must park them on campus.
Father Gerson Herrera says he thought he was just helping kids protect their expensive bikes by letting them store them in his yard during school hours.
'Kids wanted to leave their bikes at my house, and I wanted to provide a service to my community,' Herrera said in Spanish.
TJ Williams' son was struggling to find somewhere to park his Super73 bike when Herrera stepped in.
But it wasn't long until word got out about the set-up, prompting a furious backlash which spilled into a town meeting.
Bob Mittelstaedt spoke out about Herrera's bike lot because he is sick of the bad reputation class 2 e-bikes are perpetuating about all e-bikes.
But parents who have forked out for the bikes, which can cost up to $5,000, say they allow their children to get around independently
Bob Mittelstaedt spoke out about Herrera's bike lot because he is sick of the bad reputation class 2 e-bikes are perpetuating about all e-bikes
Schools in the area have now banned class 2 e-bikes and have set rules about class 1 bikes
'What I hear about most is, 'Those darn kids, they're riding so fast and doing crazy things on the sidewalk,' said Fairfax Mayor Lisel Blash.
'We're now learning that these bikes are probably illegal (because they can exceed 20 mph on throttle power alone) and not safe for kids.'
MarinHealth Medical Center has warned about the increase in class 2 e-bike collisions, including one crash that left a 15-year-old with a brain injury.
Other opponents say that the class 2 e-bikes are harmful to the city's ecosystem.
The city was hit by a lawsuit from environmental groups after it tried to expand e-bike access on Mount Tamalpais.
The eco warriors claimed that allowing further access would damage plant species.
'We want to create a community standard. But we don't want to criminalize children and put them in a situation where police are chasing them down the street,' Blash said.
