Late last night, my beloved 14-year-old dog, Saffi, was fatally struck down. My husband was walking her along the footpath towards the woods, a daily ritual for the two of them. Suddenly, a youth, dressed in black and racing an equally dark electric bike, came thundering down the path. The street lighting was severely insufficient, and the bike had no lights. Saffi, walking close to my husband, was hit and killed near instantly. We believe she was either clipped by the bike or possibly even kicked.

This is not an isolated incident; pedestrian safety is jeopardized daily by reckless electric bike riders. They speed down footpaths, which should be safe havens for walkers, joggers, children, and pets alike. We have no issue with electric bikes, but footpaths are no place for them, especially when riders show a shocking disregard for others' safety and laws requiring bikes to have lights for night use (Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989).

We urge the appropriate authorities to legally ban the use of electric bikes on pedestrian footpaths, preventing more incidents like our tragic loss of Saffi. Don’t let our pain be in vain. Let Saffi’s tragic end spark a change that will protect us, our children, and our pets from similar lethal encounters. Please, sign this petition today.