Electric bikes are not toys; they’re vehicles that require serious responsibility. The City Council recently passed a bill to regulate e-bikes, but it will be just a Band-Aid solution unless we, the parents, step up and do our part. The laws are clear: Riders under 15 cannot ride an e-bike, and anyone under 18 must wear a helmet. The police can’t be everywhere at once. The responsibility falls on us — the parents, the aunties, the uncles, the grandparents.
As a councilmember representing Waipahu and Ewa, I’ve seen the heartbreak of e-bike tragedies. These communities have experienced fatal accidents, and the stats don’t lie: Honolulu Emergency Services now responds to an e-bike incident every other day.
The government will keep pushing for new laws — but what’s missing is the most basic, crucial element: personal responsibility.
If your kid is under 15, no e-bike. Period. If they’re under 18, make sure they wear a helmet. Both wheels must stay on the ground and every traffic law must be obeyed. It’s common sense.
Augie Tulba
Honolulu City Council member
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