Merced City Schools, Weaver Schools) would start the process. It just takes an instructional person and maybe a couple of Merced Police School Resource Officers (SRO's) to do the actual research by grade level; then put into a year-by- year format. The
District will decide when and where to use it (P.E., home rooms, State Requirements, rainy days, etc.)
2. Select a key City employee to initiate the process. The Chief of Police (or, a staff member selected by him) is the perfect City employee to start meeting with each of our three Superintendents. Our Police Department is ready and is now working hard to inform youth and parents about e-cycles. The Police Department staff have partnered (& shared costs) with the schools for many years.
(I once supervised the SRO's within the Merced Union H.S. District) With this step one "awareness," it is now time to take the next step of long term "prevention."
3. Reach out to parents and other adults (i e. college students) who also need assistance. For example, knowing about the different classification of e-bikes (Merced Police has published a chart on Facebook for adults who view their site), helmet laws, age requirements, bicycle etiquette, etc.) Remember, parents do a
lot of the e-cycle buying. But you cannot expect all adults to research this information. An occasional informative sheet, prepared by the Police Department and sent out with the City utility bill would reach most adults within the city.
Colleges can add to their Bicycle web pages and new student handouts.
I urge you to start the process. The longer we wait, there will be more accidents. No one wants to hear about a young, popular freshman from one of our high schools dying from an e-bike accident.
I do hope this memo gives you some motivation to be proactive to a rising problem. Our town has great bike paths and many cyclists, family bike riders, and now e-cyclists are using our paths and streets.
Starting this process probably won't cost the City any money. (SRO salaries are paid totally, or, are shared by the Districts who usually have categorical District funds available for planning and instructional materials.)
Successful leaders have Knowledge, Communication Skills and Care (about their citizens).
Sincerely,
Joe Brucia
Retired Merced Educator
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