By Maureen Hoffmann
WABI Burien
Parents! Are your young kids popping wheelies on e-bikes as they swerve erratically back and forth across both lanes of SW 152nd?! They show poor judgement, are unpredictable, and risk their safety and that of others.
Increasingly, I see young kids that are hot-rodding e-bikes (and scooters and golf carts) around Burien. Are their parents aware of their dangerous behavior? (At least they were wearing helmets.)
Parents also need to distinguish whether they have Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike(s). “(3) No driver’s license is required for operation of an electric-assisted bicycle. Persons under sixteen years of age may not operate a class 3 electric-assisted bicycle.” (ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6434, Section 4, point 3, Page 3. Feb. 9, 2018)
As the school year ends for the summer, I’m concerned we’ll be seeing much more of this reckless e-bike riding.
Thank you for bringing this up! These bikers have scared my dog on a number of occasions revving closely to us and coming up behind us while swerving and standing on the seat.
You’re not hurt they didn’t hurt you. They’re not affecting you, leave them alone.
This report is about kids on E bikes why are you complaining about revving, if you think it’s too loud then go inside, i don’t mind the noise and they are also very friendly. I stopped and chatted with one of them about getting a new e-bike for my son, they gave me good tips and good brands. overall i think you guys should just ignore them and keep on with your day. If you ignore them, they’ll ignore you.
It’s not just an issue around 152nd, there is also a group around North SeaTac park. They ride around on Des Moines Memorial Drive, 136th, and even through the park itself.
I agree Bart Simpson
It’s not an issue for me. There’s an inherent risk in any activity. Walking, running, riding, driving, biking, playing sports, etc.
If they have their safety gear on then let the children enjoy themselves. The parks and the roads are shared spaces. Where else are they supposed to go? I find it refreshing that they are finally getting outside again.
Yep 👍
At least they are not doing drugs and playing video games, let them have fun.
I think you guys should be worrying about the homeless people on the side of the road doing drugs and jaywalking and leave the kids who are causing no harm to you alone.
As long as these kids don’t disturb, hurt, or bother other people in any way I am just glad to see them outside. Not inside on screens or doing drugs. Let the kids have fun like we did when we were younger
I have seen these kids riding around near my house and they are really respectful and have never done anything wrong to me every once in awhile I will say hi and they are really respectful to me and my neighbors and even my wife who is not really into ebike stuff.
My goodness, can we just let the kids be kids??? As someone who grew up doing the same things on these streets, its refreshing to see kids are still outside having fun.
Turn the music down while you write this article… it’s ruining the neighborhood.
They need to get some well-needed exercise and ride the bicycles as they were intended to be ridden. Plus, no drivers license no driving any motorize vehicles on the roads.
I’m a little shocked by the response from those of you who approve of leaving them alone. “Let them have fun”.
FACT: There is a vast difference between what we are allowing the unlicensed ‘drivers’ to do on our roadways and sideWALKs and safety! These “motor vehicles” are not human powered bicycles. They can achieve speeds that can injure.
I pay an exorbitant amount to insure and register my vehicles. I had to wait until I was old enough to ‘drive’. I had to pass an exam. I had to prove that I knew the rules of the road with an examiner sitting next to me. These safety measures have been tossed out because we wouldn’t want them to sit inside and play video games. Are you SERIOUS! And it’s not just a group of children. So called ADULTS are buying unlicensed, uninsured MOTOR vehicles and at high speeds going wherever they can to get around the LICENSED, and INSURED law abiding drivers. These inexpensive mostly electric motor vehicles are a menace to us. I personally watched a guy on a ‘one’ wheel, approach a line of cars at a red light in downtown Burien, jump up on a sideWALK and pass all the cars waiting at the light and jump back out on the street to continue to fly off at at least 30miles an hour. It is out of bag folks. Wake UP! This will only get worse IMO.
A menace to us?
Give me a break dude. My dad taught me how to ride a bike. No exam required.
Grouping every person on a PEV as some kind of registration and insurance avoidant scammer is absolutely ridiculous. In vehicle-dependent communities, e-bikes are one of the few affordable ways for teenagers and working families to get around. Requiring registration and insurance ignores bigger issues like rising transportation costs and the lack of safe alternatives.
Most kids on e-bikes are just trying to get to school, work, friends’ houses, or enjoy some independence. Y’all complain about traffic and gas prices, then attack one of the few options that actually helps reduce both.
As far as your One Wheel story, you’re allowed to ride on the sidewalk if the road conditions aren’t safe. Riders aren’t protected by 2 tons of metal, a seatbelt, and an airbag. A distracted driver is significantly more dangerous than some kid on an e-bike.
Sure, reckless riding should be addressed through safety education and fair enforcement. But treating every young rider like a criminal because of a few irresponsible ones is unfair.
Invest in safer bike infrastructure and education instead of trying to regulate e-bikes out of existence or whatever your agenda is.
Jason, you missed the point. No problem with human powered vehicles. You speak of a need for safe alternative transportation. How about walking or riding a bus.
BlkShrt, your push to villainize PEVs isn’t about safety, it’s just a moral bias from someone who is discriminant against new tech and prefers to keep the neighborhood stuck in the past. You’re ‘okay’ with ‘human powered vehicles’ but physics doesn’t care if you’re pedaling or using a motor. Rider/driver behavior is the real determination. Suggesting they walk or ride the bus isn’t advocacy… it’s just elitist dismissal.
It’s also interesting to see such a strong stance on safety when the original post relies on photos taken while driving, which is a clear, active hazard. If the goal is actually public safety, we should be looking at real risks like distracted driving instead of just policing technology.