If you’ve ridden in a car in Arlington in the past few months, it’s likely you’ve seen a black blur whiz past your window. The blur in question? Electric bikes, also known as e-bikes. These speedy modes of transportation have skyrocketed in popularity among Arlington youth, drawing concerns over the safety of both the operator and the other people on the road.
“It drives me absolutely crazy because it is really unsafe. Because these kids act as if they’re cars, most not wearing helmets, most not following pedestrian laws, most not following automobile laws… it’s a recipe for disaster,” parent Brent Bensten said.
E-bikes aren’t anything new. Many remember the craze a few years back when Lime scooters were strewn about on virtually every street corner. But the recent rise in popularity, specifically among this younger age group of middle schoolers, is new. Williamsburg Middle School recently prohibited the use of e-bikes and scooters for transport to and from school in an effort to minimize parent’s safety concerns.
“Bikes are everywhere now. It’s a lot of younger boys who have started to ride. Some of them have a grasp on how to ride correctly but some of them just do it to impress other people and seem cool,” sophomore biker Vivian Schellhas said.
Schellhas is a long-time member of the e-bike community, having ridden one since she was ten. While being an “adrenaline junkie” is a large reason why she rides, there’s something other than the thrill that keeps her riding.
“I really like the community [biking] creates. Everybody is so nice to each other,” Schellhas said.
Many people write off e-bikers as irresponsible or dangerous. They think their signature driving style and speed equates to carelessness. However, many underestimate the dedication bikers have to their own safety as well as other bikers.
“We all understand each other. If we have a problem, we all have each other’s backs,” Schellhas said.
Maybe it’s this type of community that younger kids are seeking when they start riding. There’s a notable lack of “third spaces”—safe places that aren’t restaurants or someone’s house—for people to hang out here in Arlington, making it difficult for teenagers and younger kids to find hobbies that aren’t sports or going on their phone. This could be a driving force behind the sudden increase in e-biking, and a reason many are hesitant to restrict it.
However, there’s no doubt that some aspects of e-biking could use improvement. Some of the bikes can get up to 50 miles per hour, although the speed limit in pedestrian traffic is 25 miles per hour for e-bikes.
There’s one thing these varied viewpoints have in common: this rise in bikers is unprecedented and uncharted territory, and people and rules alike will have to adapt along the way.
