Submitted by Jessica Ciparelli
(August 13, 2026) — State Representative Renee LaMark Muir has announced a new community e-bike safety program designed to help young riders and their families safely navigate the growing popularity of e-bikes, e-scooters, and other electric recreational vehicles.
“Ride Smart 101: E-Bike Safety Program” will be held on August 24, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at Deep River Elementary School. Children and parents from Haddam, Chester, Deep River and Essex are invited and encouraged to participate.
The program is the first safety program specifically geared toward e-bikes in the region and is intended to serve as a model that other communities across Connecticut can use to address the growing need for education and safe riding practices. The program is modeled after the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s (CTDOT) Pedal Bike Rodeo and Safe Routes to School programs, adapting those successful safety and education efforts to the rapidly growing use of e-bikes and other electric recreational vehicles.
“Kids will always look for adventure. Today, that adventure often comes on an e-bike,” said Rep. LaMark Muir. “Over the past several months, parents, grandparents, neighbors, drivers, and town officials have shared concerns about unsafe riding and have questions about the rules of the road for e-bikes. This program is about giving young riders the knowledge and skills they need to have fun, ride responsibly, and get home safely every day.”
The program is provided through a partnership between the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection’s (DESPP) Division of State Police and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT). Additional community partners include First Selectmen, Parks and Recreation Departments, Resident State Troopers and local constables, and youth service bureaus in Chester, Deep River, Essex and Haddam, as well as Regional School Districts 4 and 17.
The program will provide practical instruction and discussion on:
- Rules of the road and traffic laws applicable to e-bikes and e-scooters
- Respectful and courteous operation in neighborhoods and throughout the community
- Maintenance and basic repair of e-bikes and e-scooters
- Safe riding techniques and tactics to help young riders maintain control
- How riders, parents and the broader community can work together to promote safer operation
“This program isn’t about taking away the fun,” said LaMark Muir. “It’s about making sure our kids understand the responsibility that comes with riding an e-bike or e-scooter. We want them to know the rules, develop good riding habits, maintain control, and make smart decisions.”
LaMark Muir said the program also demonstrates the value of bringing state and local resources together to address community concerns. “This is a practical and positive response to a concern we are hearing from families and communities throughout the region,” she said. “By bringing together our state and local police, CTDOT, local officials, schools, youth service organizations, Parks and Recreation departments and other community partners, we can give our young people the tools they need to ride safely while helping make our roads and neighborhoods safer for everyone.” The program’s organizers hope the initiative can become a blueprint for communities throughout Connecticut as e-bike use continues to grow.
Families are encouraged to attend and take part in this new community safety initiative. Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=FGfHPrSxikGIMjLEbshCJjWy6p9_w-hHueKUX5zBAINURTdTS1U5S1JHQklZVk1ZVlJGWkc1QkFNTy4u&route=shorturl
I look forward to attending this E-Bike Safety Program and hope the information resonates with anyone who rides or may be affected by these ubiquitous new means of transportation.
Re: Pedestrian safety concerns — shared-use paths at Hammonasset Beach State Park: I am writing to raise a concern about the paved walking paths and boardwalk at Hammonasset Beach State Park, which I visit regularly, and really any state park that allows e-machines that share space with pedestrians. These paths are shared by pedestrians, families with strollers, young children, seniors, and cyclists. In recent visits, I have observed a marked increase in electric scooters, e-bikes, and electric skateboards traveling at speeds that put other path users and even boardwalk users at risk.
Bicycles have long been an expected part of multi-use trails, but even these appear to be speeding up, passing walkers closely, and without warning. However, faster electric devices create a much greater speed differential relative to pedestrians, and I have often seen riders moving too fast for families with strollers or small children to react safely. I am concerned it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously hurt if this has not happened already.
Connecticut law generally permits electric bicycles and scooters wherever conventional bicycles are allowed. I recognize that DEEP is balancing access for cyclists and e-bike users against pedestrian safety, along with limited staff available. With that in mind, I would like to offer a few practical measures that other parks have used successfully:
1. Post/enforce a low-speed limit on the shared paths.
2. Clarify that pedestrians have the right of way at all times.
3. Prohibit high-speed modified electric skateboards and scooters/bikes not designed for shared paths.
4. Reinstate DEEP/ENCON officers riding bicycles along the entire path when traffic is heaviest to enforce the rules.
We want everyone to enjoy the outdoors and stay safe. I emailed Friends of Hammonasset and DEEP, but received no response.