Why do I keep seeing Middle and High Schoolers on Dirtbikes on ARL Roadways???

[Anonymous]

I’m the OP. I posted the question because I honestly couldn’t figure out if I was “missing” something. My kids are early 20s so I’m out of the loop when it comes to MS and HS kids.

Now that I understand the situation, I’ll contact Arlington policymakers and law enforcement to ask them to look into this. 13 and 14 year olds are riding vehicles in roadways **despite not having roadway licenses**. That doesn’t make sense from a safety perspective. I know that I have zero power over people with poor parenting skills and have no intention of going that route.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I posted the question because I honestly couldn’t figure out if I was “missing” something. My kids are early 20s so I’m out of the loop when it comes to MS and HS kids.

Now that I understand the situation, I’ll contact Arlington policymakers and law enforcement to ask them to look into this. 13 and 14 year olds are riding vehicles in roadways **despite not having roadway licenses**. That doesn’t make sense from a safety perspective. I know that I have zero power over people with poor parenting skills and have no intention of going that route.

Please also bring up speeding escooters and ebikes on the paved trails. I keep doing that and no response.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I posted the question because I honestly couldn’t figure out if I was “missing” something. My kids are early 20s so I’m out of the loop when it comes to MS and HS kids.

Now that I understand the situation, I’ll contact Arlington policymakers and law enforcement to ask them to look into this. 13 and 14 year olds are riding vehicles in roadways **despite not having roadway licenses**. That doesn’t make sense from a safety perspective. I know that I have zero power over people with poor parenting skills and have no intention of going that route.

Arlington needs to ban eBikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's bad parenting.

Yep. It's that. My middle schooler is a dumb-ss. What he isn't is in possession of something that would greatly exacerbate that dumb-ssery. The parents who have bought these bikes are the same ones who have always been the issue. It's never, ever a surprise. The ones whose kids you love because they are kids, but who you hope get a clue and become better adults who don't take after their parents.

[Anonymous]

This one teen I see lives in the Williamsburg neighborhood. If you live near Minor Hill, this is YOUR kid. He blocks people in at the CVS, literally sits on his bike behind them and won't move. He flies down the hill on Williamsburg Blvd and almost got hit once when an impatient drive went around another car trying to turn left onto Potomac.

I recognize him each time but don't know which house he lives in or I would knock.

[Anonymous]

In several states, the legal age is 14. There is a big difference between a Class 1 (pedal assist) e-bike and a dirt bike with no pedals, which go much faster. We live in a hilly neighborhood, and ebikes give 14-15-year-olds some independence. They are great for responsible teens and elderly people who can no longer pedal up hills without an assist.

[Anonymous]

I have never seen an elderly person on a e-bike in Arlington. Or even a middle aged person.

[Anonymous]

Grandparents buying them for their grandkids well.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSC4wFcCMOq/

[Anonymous]

They are e-bikes that look like off road motorcycles.

They are on the bike a paths going about 35mph at times.

May as just let real motorcycles use the paths at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I posted the question because I honestly couldn’t figure out if I was “missing” something. My kids are early 20s so I’m out of the loop when it comes to MS and HS kids.

Now that I understand the situation, I’ll contact Arlington policymakers and law enforcement to ask them to look into this. 13 and 14 year olds are riding vehicles in roadways **despite not having roadway licenses**. That doesn’t make sense from a safety perspective. I know that I have zero power over people with poor parenting skills and have no intention of going that route.

Please also bring up speeding escooters and ebikes on the paved trails. I keep doing that and no response.

I think it’s legislatively messy, because they are classified as e-bikes (which kids are allowed to ride in streets?) But I agree- I wish there were a state law on this

[Anonymous]

I go to the Ashburn Farm area 1x/week for a class, and the amount of kids on these ebikes is staggering. Many without helmets, flying down pedestrian paths, and weaving around the large parking lot in the shopping center nearby. I am shocked there hasn't been a fatality yet. To the county's credit, I have seen police officers stopping kids without helmets.

[Anonymous]

Friday mid morning a kid was in the middle of Langston Hwy on his e-bike doing wheelies down the hill in front of KFC with no helmet. He had his hood up though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friday mid morning a kid was in the middle of Langston Hwy on his e-bike doing wheelies down the hill in front of KFC with no helmet. He had his hood up though!

I think I saw him in front of Overlee - LOL. I was like what the what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I posted the question because I honestly couldn’t figure out if I was “missing” something. My kids are early 20s so I’m out of the loop when it comes to MS and HS kids.

Now that I understand the situation, I’ll contact Arlington policymakers and law enforcement to ask them to look into this. 13 and 14 year olds are riding vehicles in roadways **despite not having roadway licenses**. That doesn’t make sense from a safety perspective. I know that I have zero power over people with poor parenting skills and have no intention of going that route.

New Jersey just banned all e-bikes unless you first get a drivers license for it.

[Anonymous]

The law bans riders who are 14 years old or younger from using motorized bicycles and scooters. Riders 15 years old and older need a license, registration and insurance. Driver's license holders don't need a separate e-bike license.