In recent times, our community has been rocked by the tragic death of a promising 9-year-old child, who lost their life in a preventable e-scooter incident. This was not an isolated incident; several other children have been involved in similar accidents this year. Such tragedies are heart-wrenching and leave families and communities devastated. We believe these mishaps could have been avoided if there were stricter regulations regarding the usage of electric bikes (e-bikes) and scooters among children under 16 years old.

Electric scooters and bikes are powerful and swift, making them suitable primarily for adults who can understand the operational risks. However, without ensuring adequate regulation, supervision, and maturity, we inadvertently place our children in danger.

Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics found a significant rise in injuries among children involving e-bikes and e-scooters. In fact, a study noted that children under 16 account for a disproportionate number of these injuries, often resulting in severe outcomes. Fairfax County should not wait for another heart-wrenching loss to act. It is paramount to safeguard the wellbeing of our future generations.

We urge the local government and relevant authorities in Fairfax County to introduce and enforce a prohibition on the use of e-bikes and e-scooters for children under the age of 16. Such a measure will not only save lives but also encourage a shared sense of responsibility among parents, kids, and the community.

By enforcing this regulation, we can provide our young ones with safer alternatives, such as manual bicycles or supervised recreational activities, which ensure they remain active while reducing the risk of injury.

Let's work together to prevent more tragedies and protect our community's children. Please sign this petition to help create a safer environment for our kids in Fairfax County.

PS: It is not practical for law enforcement officers to check the class or max speed on each e-bike/e-scooter . ( Also There are ways to override the max speed limit )  . The  effective approach would be to ban all motorized e-bike/e-scooters for kids under 16.