‘That’s a recipe for disaster’: KIRO hosts warn about young e-bike riders as Arlington adopts new rules

Arlington’s City Council approved new rules on Oct. 5 restricting where faster e-bikes can operate and requiring helmets for certain riders. Class 3 e-bikes are prohibited on shared-use paths, including the Centennial Trail, while helmet requirements cover Class 3 operators and riders younger than 16 on any class of e-bike.

On “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, KIRO host Ursula Reutin urged riders to take responsibility for their safety, while KIRO host Spike O’Neill called for training before children get on e-bikes.

“Giving a minor an e-bike is fine, but they should have to take a safety class,” Spike said.

Spike questions whether parents understand e-bike speeds

Spike noted his concern was not with children enjoying themselves outdoors but with whether families understand the equipment.

“Parents these days put kids on e-bikes not knowing what they’re giving their kids,” he said. “I don’t think it’s lack of caring. I think it’s just genuine ignorance. I don’t mean in a bad way. It’s naivete and ignorance of what these bikes really can do.”

Spike described his concerns about young riders entering traffic.

“These kids who have been riding pedaled bicycles their whole life, now they just turn a wrist, and all of a sudden they’re young adults on what is essentially a motorcycle, right, in traffic with no training and no safety requirements,” he said. “I think that’s a recipe for disaster.”

KIRO producer describes close calls on his own bike

KIRO producer Paul Holden, who rides an e-bike, discussed how speed affects his approach to riding around pedestrians.

“When I’m on my bike, and I’m going 20, I feel the difference,” he said. “If I was to hit somebody, and there’s a lot of pedestrians and stuff, that’s damage. That’s big damage to them. It’s big damage to me.”

Paul recalled two occasions when braking nearly caused him to skid into a car.

“I hit the brake a little too hard. My back wheel goes and slides out,” he said. “But I’m a 30-year-old guy that’s been biking for a long time.”

Paul encouraged parents to discuss traffic safety rather than assuming experience on a conventional bicycle is enough.

“If you are going to be a parent that gives your kids the e-bike — and I would have loved to have, I did a lot of commuting by biking when I was younger in high school and stuff before I got a car — you should talk about traffic safety,” he said. “This isn’t like riding a bike. You’re going faster, more consistently.”

Ursula urges riders not to wait for a tragedy

The discussion also covered helmets and shared rental bikes. Spike recalled seeing an adult and a young child riding together without helmets after school pickup.

Ursula called that behavior reckless and urged riders to take precautions themselves.

“You don’t want to legislate by catastrophe,” she said. “It should be individuals taking the time, whether it’s a safety class, wearing the helmet. I mean, if you’re going to be out there, do the right thing. Be responsible.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.