“E-Moto” & E-Scooter Survey at Local Middle Schools

On February 24-25, 2025, Danville Safety Advocates conducted a “E-Moto” and E-Scooter Observational Survey at several middle schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District.

This study aimed to identify trends in how students commute to school, particularly focusing on the use of electric-powered transportation. The data collected provides insight into the varying levels of e-bike and e-scooter adoption across different schools, potentially influenced by factors such as school location, student demographics, and local infrastructure.In recent years, the use of electric motorcycles “E-Motos”(Super 73, MacFox, Ariel Rider, Lyric, Onyx, P-51, Ridstar, etc.), and e-scooters has surged among middle school students in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District and throughout the Town of Danville. Although these vehicles offer an efficient and enjoyable mode of transportation, they come with significant risks. With an alarming increase in injuries and fatalities associated with these devices, urgent action is needed from parents, schools, and local authorities to address the dangers they pose. Without better enforcement, education, and accurate tracking, more young riders will continue to face severe harm, if not worse.

As electric mobility continues to grow in popularity, understanding the transportation habits of middle school students is essential for improving safety, infrastructure, and community planning. By analyzing these trends, the Danville Town Council, Danville Staff, Danville Police Department, Danville Bicycle Advisory Commission and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District can better understand transportation needs and consider policies or safety measures to support responsible and efficient mobility for students.

As these numbers grow, so do the risks. National statistics paint a grim picture of the dangers:

A JAMA Network Open study (August 2024) reported a 100% increase in e-bike/moped injuries and a 500% increase in e-scooter injuries from 2017 to 2022.
A University of California, San Francisco study revealed that e-scooter injuries now surpass bicycle injuries among young riders.

A 17-year-old male riding a Super 73 e-bike/moped suffered severe injuries in a collision at Century Way & Century Circle (January 24, 2023)
Head trauma and fractures are the most common injuries, with many requiring hospitalization.
A Concerning Gap in Traffic Safety Data

Diablo Vista Middle School: 36 “E-Motos”(February 24, 2025)

As the use of e-bikes, e-motorcycles (Super 73, MacFox, Ridstar, etc.) and e-scooters continues to rise in Danville, so do concerns about safety—particularly when it comes to interactions with motor vehicles. The recent survey highlights the growing presence of electric mobility among middle school students. However, what remains alarmingly unclear is just how many collisions have occurred between e-bikes, e-motorcycles (Super 73, MacFox, Ridstar, etc.) and vehicles, or e-scooters and vehicles, from 2020 to the present.

An 11-year-old boy on a Rad Power E-Bike/Moped riding on the sidewalk collided with an SUV. San Ramon Valley Blvd & Town and Country Shopping Center Exit (December 30, 2024)

Despite the increasing visibility of e-bikes, e-motorcycles(Super 73, MacFox, Ridstar, etc.) and e-scooters on Danville’s roads and trails, the Danville Police Department does not have documented data on the number of crashes involving these vehicles. This lack of tracking raises serious questions: How can the town effectively address safety concerns if there is no clear understanding of the risks? How can enforcement strategies, infrastructure improvements, or public education campaigns be tailored to the real dangers if no one is counting the incidents?

Parents, students, and community members deserve transparency and action when it comes to safety. If e-bike, e-motorcycles (Super 73, MacFox, Ridstar, etc.) and e-scooter collisions are not being properly tracked, how can the town make informed decisions about necessary improvements? The absence of this data not only hinders proactive measures but also puts young riders at risk as they continue to share the roads with cars.

It is imperative that the Danville Police Department begin collecting and publicly reporting e-bike, e-motorcycles (Super 73, MacFox, Ridstar, etc.) and e-scooter collision data. Without this, the town is operating in the dark, unable to properly assess the impact of electric mobility on road safety. If Danville is serious about ensuring safe transportation for all, it must start by acknowledging the problem—and that starts with keeping count.

E-Bike, E-Motorcycle Collisions in Danville and Surrounding Areas

Several severe and fatal e-bike accidents have occurred in Danville and nearby towns, but many were misclassified, making it harder to track trends and enforce safety measures:

January 15, 2018 – A 74-year-old man was fatally injured on an E-Traverse e-bike. The crash was labeled as a standard bicycle incident, masking the dangers of e-bikes.
July 9, 2021 – A 16-year-old boy lost control of his e-bike in a San Ramon intersection, crashing into a vehicle. He suffered multiple fractures and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) despite wearing a helmet.
January 24, 2023 – A 17-year-old male riding a Super 73 e-motorcycle suffered severe injuries in a collision at Century Way & Century Circle.
July 15, 2023 – A 13-year-old girl riding an unregistered high-speed e-bike crashed into a parked car in Alamo, breaking both arms.
December 30, 2024 – An 11-year-old boy on a Rad Power e-motorcycle collided with an SUV.  The crash was wrongly categorized as a “Driver – Driver” incident. Diablo Vista Middle School – 36 E-Bikes/Mopeds(Super 73’s, MacFox’s, etc.) (February 24, 2025)
January 8, 2025 – A 69-year-old woman on a Rad Power E-Bike suffered severe injuries after colliding with a vehicle but was labeled under “Driver – Bicyclist.”
Additional Notable Incidents

March 2023 – Santa Monica, CA – A 12-year-old boy riding an e-bike was killed after being hit by a van.
September 2023 – Huntington Beach, CA – A 15-year-old girl suffered critical injuries after her e-bike lost control and crashed into a curb.
E-Scooter Collisions in Danville and Nearby Areas

E-scooter riders, particularly children, are also at high risk due to the lack of regulation and safety enforcement.

September 19, 2022 – A 14-year-old male riding a Ninebot Kickscooter was hit by an SUV and injured.
May 2, 2023 – A 12-year-old boy riding an unlicensed e-scooter fell after hitting a pothole on Crow Canyon Road, San Ramon, suffering a skull fracture.
June 6, 2024 – A 15-year-old girl on an e-scooter was struck by a vehicle, suffering severe injuries. The collision was misclassified as a “Vehicle – Pedestrian”accident.
July 2024 – Walnut Creek, CA – A 14-year-old girl on an electric scooter was hit by a pickup truck at an intersection. She suffered a broken pelvis and internal bleeding.
January 2025 – Palo Alto, CA – A 13-year-old boy riding an e-scooter without a helmet lost control and suffered a serious head injury. Published by the Danville Police Department
A Call to Immediate Action: The safety of our children cannot be delayed. Without decisive intervention, the likelihood of serious injuries and fatalities will only increase. We urge the Danville Town Council, Danville Staff, Danville Police Department, Danville Bicycle Advisory Commission and the San Ramon Valley Unified School District to prioritize this issue and implement meaningful safety measures without delay.

The Danville Safety Advocates are ready to collaborate in any capacity necessary to ensure swift and effective action. Please contact us at your earliest convenience to arrange a meeting to address this pressing matter.