Riverside County approves OTS pedestrian and bicycle safety grant, officials say it will include e-bike education

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on May 5 to approve a state Office of Traffic Safety grant that county health officials said will fund pedestrian and bicycle safety education, free helmets and outreach on e-bike and motorized scooter safety.

Dr. Marcia Penny of Riverside University Health System — Public Health told the board the grant will support school- and community-based education, distributed bicycle helmets at no cost and include materials about e-bike and scooter safety. "This grant will allow us to go into schools, work with community groups and community centers to provide education on general pedestrian and bicycle safety," Penny said. "We also are able to provide bicycle helmets at no cost to individuals in the community."

The item drew questions from supervisors about whether the grant covers e-bikes, after a supervisor referenced a recent crash that killed an 81-year-old pedestrian and expressed concern about increasing complaints related to motorized bicycles. Penny said the grant explicitly includes education on e-bike safety and motorized scooters, and said the county will partner with law enforcement as part of the outreach effort.

A board member noted existing local regulations—where ordinance 995 governs bicycles on sidewalks and trails—and asked whether enforcement and outreach should be emphasized as e-bike use grows. Penny said the project will include law enforcement partners and family outreach to emphasize rules of the road and safe riding practices.

The board approved the grant application and the associated agreement by a unanimous vote. The approval authorizes staff to proceed with the education and helmet-distribution program; the county did not detail a timeline for distribution or the grant's dollar amount during the discussion.