Educational Panel Scheduled In Fairfield On E-Bike, E-Scooter Safety

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Safe Streets Alliance will host an educational panel next month on e-bike and e-scooter safety, organizers announced. (The full release is below)

Among those who will be participating in the panel will be members of the Fairfield Police and Fire departments; emergency room physicians; the Chair of the Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee; owner of local bicycle shop Cycle Dynamics.

"The event is free and open to adults, families and parents seeking accurate, practical information about the safe use of e-bikes and e-scooters," wrote First Selectwoman Christine Vitale in a recent community update. "Please pre-register here."

Michael Testani, Fairfield's Superintendent of Schools, wrote to families this week about the need for the event.

"Every week, children riding these devices end up in emergency rooms with broken bones, head injuries, or worse,"Testani said. "These are not rare accidents. They are happening in our community right now."

The presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Dec. 4 at the Fairfield Public Library.

For more information and to register, click here.

— Flyer from the Town of Fairfield

Below is the event's full announcement:

FAIRFIELD, CT — In response to growing concerns about e-bike and e-scooter dangers in Fairfield and throughout the region, the Fairfield Safe Streets Alliance will host a Safety Panel on Thursday, December 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairfield Public Library’s Memorial Room, 1080 Old Post Road. The event is open to adults, families and parents seeking accurate, practical information about the safe use of e-bikes and e-scooters.

The panel will bring together experts who routinely see the consequences of unsafe riding and crashes, including representatives from the Fairfield Police Department, Fairfield Fire Department, emergency room physicians, members of the Fairfield Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, and the owner of a local bicycle shop, Cycle Dynamics. Bridgeport Hospital’s Injury Prevention Team will be there with information on rider protection and safe operation of e-bikes.

First responders and ER physicians will share their experiences and concerns with the types of traumatic injuries they’re seeing, the circumstances that lead to the risk of serious crashes, and what riders and parents need to know to prevent them. Police and Fire representatives will address law enforcement issues, emergency response challenges, and the dangerous behaviors they witness on a daily basis. In addition, there will be guidance on lithium battery storage and fire dangers, safe equipment, increased speed capability with riders changing the bicycle controls, and the responsibilities of riders and drivers.

The program will begin with a short presentation, followed by a public question and answer session. You can submit your questions to the panelists here.

“We continue to hear from residents who are concerned about the safety of e-bikes and e-scooters. While a convenient mode of transportation, e-bikes and e-scooters can pose a serious risk to riders, pedestrians and drivers if not used correctly. We are seeing increasing incidents where riders have been seriously injured, many of them children and teens,” said First Selectman Christine Vitale, “This evening’s presentation is intended to give residents a clear understanding of what our first responders and ER doctors are seeing and to provide information that will help keep riders and roads safe. I hope that parents and concerned residents will join us for this important discussion.”

“There is a serious risk of injury for those riding electric bikes and scooters when they are not following the rules of the road,” said Fairfield Police Chief Michael Paris. “This panel is an opportunity for parents, students, and residents to hear directly from safety professionals and learn practical steps to reduce risk.”

“As first responders, we see firsthand the toll that e-bike and e-scooter crashes and improper battery charging practices can have on our families and young people in town. Fairfield’s Vision Zero Pledge reinforces our shared responsibility to keep each other safe, whether on the road or at home,” said Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Barry. “By working together through the Safe Streets program, we can prevent injuries, encourage safer riding habits, and make sure residents understand the real dangers of damaged or poorly charged lithium-ion batteries.”

Event Details:
What: E-Bikes, E-Scooters, and Emergency Rooms: Safety Panel
When: Thursday, December 4, 7:00 -8:30 p.m.
Where: Fairfield Public Library Memorial Room, 1080 Old Post Road
Admission: Free and open to the public. Please pre-register here.

Thanks to a grant from the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG) and our sponsors, no taxpayer dollars have been used for this campaign. We are grateful to Neighborhood Champion Sponsor Penske Automotive Group, including Porsche, Audi and Mercedes-Benz of Fairfield; Video Sponsor Minuteman Press; Media Sponsor WSHU Radio; Giveaway Sponsors Trek Bike Store Fairfield and Cycle Dynamics; and Emmy-award winning Video Production Company A2V Media.

About the Fairfield Safe Streets Alliance

The Fairfield Safe Streets Alliance is a Town of Fairfield coalition that includes representatives from the Police and Fire Departments, the Health Department, Fairfield Public Schools, Fairfield Public Library, the First Selectman’s Office, and the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, all working together to encourage safer use of Fairfield roadways. The Alliance’s goal is keeping Fairfield roads safe for all residents, whether they’re driving, biking, walking, or riding a scooter. The “Road Safety Starts With You” campaign is intended to raise awareness, educate the public about driver, bicyclist and pedestrian rules, and promote slower, safer, friendlier streets. This year, the Town of Fairfield signed the Vision Zero Pledge, with the goal to end all traffic fatalities by 2034. More information can be found here.