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Home My WebLink About021825-04.1 KALIN, ALAN EMAIL 021825Subject: Urgent Need for Improved E -Bike and E -Scooter Collision Reporting in Danville Dear Danville Town Council Members, Renee Morgan, Karen Stepper, Mark Belotz, Robert Storer, and Newell Arnerich February 17, 2025 The rise of e -bikes and e -scooters in Danville has introduced new mobility options for residents, particularly students. However, a troubling lack of collision data tracking threatens public safety and prevents necessary policy changes from being made. A Public Records Act Request submitted to the Danville Police Depaitrnent on February 7, 2025, asked for the number of e - scooter and e -bike collisions with vehicles from 2017 to the present. The City Attorney responded that such information is not readily available, because Crossroads Software—the system used for collision data—does not differentiate between traditional bicycles, e -bikes, or e - scooters. This alarming gap in data collection raises serious concerns about road safety and the town's ability to implement effective traffic solutions. An 11 -year-old boy riding a Rad Power E -Bike on the sidewalk collided with an SUV (12/30/2024). The crash was mislabeled in Danville Crossroads Collision data as a "Driver – Driver," failing to account for the 75 -pound, 20+mph e -bike. (photo above). The Growing Presence of E -Bikes and E -Scooters E -bikes and e -scooters have rapidly become a staple in Danville, especially among middle school students. A survey conducted on August 27, 2024, revealed: • Diablo Vista Middle School had 21 e-bikes/mopeds and 50 e -scooters. • Los Cerros Middle School had 25 e-bikes/mopeds and 17 e -scooters. As these numbers grow, so does the risk of collisions, making it imperative for local authorities to track and analyze incidents accurately. National trends support this concern. A study published in JAMA Network Open in August 2024 reported a 100% increase in e -bike injuries and a 500% increase in e -scooter injuries between 2017 and 2022. Another study by the University of California, San Francisco, highlighted the rising number of e -scooter injuries, especially among young riders. Why Accurate Collision Reporting Matters The inability to properly track e -bike and e -scooter incidents has far-reaching consequences. Accurate data is essential to: • Identify high-risk areas and implement targeted safety measures. • Enhance public awareness and educate riders about responsible e -mobility use. • Improve infrastructure such as bike lanes and safer crossings. • Ensure appropriate emergency response and resource allocation. Without proper classification of these incidents, Danville is left in the dark about the full extent of safety risks, making proactive policymaking nearly impossible. Photo credit Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group Misclassification of E -Bike and E -Scooter Collisions A review of Danville's Crossroads Collision Summary Reports uncovered multiple instances of misclassified or undocumented e -bike and e -scooter collisions. Some notable cases include: E -Bike Collisions: • January 15, 2018 — A 74 -year-old man was fatally injured on an E -Traverse e -bike, but the crash was labeled as a standard bicycle incident. 2 • January 24, 2023 – A 17 -year-old male riding a Super 73 type e -bike was severely injured in a collision, which was misclassified as a "Driver – Driver" incident (photo below). • December 30, 2024 – An 11 -year-old boy riding a Rad Power E -Bike collided with an SUV. The incident was wrongly categorized as "Driver – Driver (photo page#1)" • January 8, 2025 – A 69 -year-old woman on a Rad Power E -Bike was severely injured in a vehicle collision but was labeled under "Driver – Bicyclist." E -Scooter Collisions: • September 19, 2022 – A 14 -year-old male on a Ninebot Kickscooter was hit by an SUV and injured, yet it was recorded as a "Driver – Driver" crash and coded as "motor -driven cycle/scooter." • June 6, 2024 – A 15 -year-old girl was struck by a vehicle while riding an e -scooter, suffering severe injuries. The collision was misclassified as a "Vehicle – Pedestrian" incident. These are not minor data errors. The failure to accurately document these incidents means officials and the public cannot analyze trends, assess risks, or develop necessary safety regulations. A Call to Action – Partnering for a Safer Danville Ensuring public safety in the era of e -mobility requires a proactive and collaborative approach. By working together—residents, town officials, law enforcement, and schools—we can implement data -driven solutions that protect all who share Danville's roads and trails. The first step is simple yet essential: improving collision tracking and categorization. Danville should collaborate with Crossroads Software to advocate for an "Electric Cycles" category in transportation databases. This would ensure e -bikes (Class 1, 2, & 3) and e -scooters are accurately documented, allowing for better safety analysis and policy decisions. 3 We urge the Danville Town Council to take action: 1. Enhance Data Collection — Ensure Crossroads Software includes e -bike and e -scooter categories in collision reports. 2. Improve Infrastructure — Develop designated lanes and safer crossings for e -mobility users. 3. Raise Public Awareness — Educate riders, motorists, and pedestrians about safe e - mobility practices. 4. Strengthen Partnerships — Collaborate with local authorities, schools, and safety advocates to address these concerns effectively. We welcome the opportunity to discuss these pressing issues and look forward to meeting with the Town Council at the earliest convenience. Together, we can make Danville a leader in responsible and safe e -mobility. For more information visit BikeDanville.org Sincerely, Danville Safety Advocates - Jeff Eorio, Kyle Smith, Chris Kenber, Gary Spinella, Cynthia Ruzzi, Jennifer Fish, Alan Kalin, Beth McKnight, Rick Edmondson, Charlie Wills, Scott Parr, Nicola Place, Paul Ambrose, Gary Brannan, , Deepinder Singh, Kathleen Farley, David Cheung, K. Sue Duncan, Sunyo Suhaimi, Barbara Hailey, Ted Trambley, Bob Miller, Henry Turko, Tony Soby, Rahman Batin and Ken Mozek CC: Town of Danville Staff - Joe Calabrigo, Town Manager; Tai William, Assistant Town Manager; Diane Friedmann, Development Services Director; Thomas Rossberg, Chief of Police; Allen Shields, Transportation Manager; Rob Ewing, City Attorney; Edwin Martinez, Traffic Engineer Danville Bicycle Advisory Commissioners - Angela Wang, Jose Gutierrez, Connor Fitzpatrick and Chris Heck San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board Members - Shelley Clark, Susana Ordway, Jessie vanZee, Rachel Hurd and Laura Bratt Contra Costa County Supervisor: Candace Andersen, District #2 East Bay Regional Park District — John Mercurio, Ward 6 Board Member STO SAFETY 00 4