Town Manager reply to Request for Danville Proclamation (PDF)
From: Joe Calabrigo <jcalabrigo@danville.ca.gov>
To: ALAN KALIN <alankalin@yahoo.com>; Kristine Meidberg <kmeidberg@danville.ca.gov>
Cc: _Town Council <council@danville.ca.gov>; _Bicycle Advisory Commission <bicycleadvisorycommission@danville.ca.gov>; Allan Shields <ashields@danville.ca.gov>; Diane Friedmann <dfriedmann@danville.ca.gov>; Tai Williams <twilliams@danville.ca.gov>; Marie Sunseri <msunseri@danville.ca.gov>; Jeff Eorio <diablojeff@sbcglobal.net>; Nicola Place <nicola.place@gmail.com>; Bruce Bilodeau <bbilodeaubjbi@yahoo.com>; Todd Gary <todd@thegarys.net>; john.downey@heidelberg.com <john.downey@heidelberg.com>; Kyle Smith <kyle@pacelinelaw.com>
Sent: Monday, June 9, 2025 at 05:59:40 PM PDT
Subject: REQUEST TOWN OF DANVILLE PROCLAMATION
Alan:
Thank you for your e-mail and continued concern regarding the use and operation of e-bikes in and around Danville. As a safety issue, this is a high priority for the Town.
Through your previous involvement as a Town Commissioner and your ongoing conversations with the Town’s Transportation Manager, Allan Shields, you are familiar with many of the Town’s ongoing efforts to address the issue of safety when it comes to the operation of various e-mobility devices, especially as it relates to use of same by persons that are either too young or unqualified to operate them. This has included an extensive information and communication aimed at parents via social and print media, newsletters, e-mails, etc. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has also provided information to parents via their communications and outreach.
Despite the extensive effort to reach parents which has been ongoing for the past year, we are collectively continuing to observe the large numbers of e-bikes being ridden on streets, sidewalks and in various other areas that are not meant for this purpose. This tells me that the message isn’t being received. I suspect that your suggestion of a proclamations, while well intentioned, would fall upon similar deaf ears. Clearly, other more direct actions are warranted. This includes:
- As the use and operation of e-bikes by juveniles is a matter of broad concern for many cities, we firmly believe that real relief must come in the form of State legislation. This is an area where organizations and community members could be of assistance by reaching out to legislators. Given your previous experience and success advocating for changes with state agencies, this may be an area you could consider supporting. As we seek the assistance of one of our local legislators to carry a bill, the Town will also be working to mobilize our fellow Contra Costa and Tri-Valley cities to broaden our efforts.
- After an initial period of time spent educating and issuing warnings, the Danville Police Department has been stopping and citing people who are operating e-devices inappropriately or without the proper license. This approach has had a more direct impact upon parents. Our PD will be conducting saturated and visible police enforcement throughout the summer months – both townwide and in our local parks.
- The Town previously adopted Ordinance No. 2024-07 which placed restriction on the operation of e-bikes on sidewalks in business districts. However, we continue to experience conflicts between e-bikes and pedestrians both in commercial areas as well as elsewhere. We are now working to update our e-bike ordinance to more broadly address the continued concerns that have been raised.
We welcome your continued engagement and support as we continue to seek solutions in the interest of community safety.
Sincerely,
| Joseph A. Calabrigo
Town Manager Town of Danville | 500 La Gonda Way | Danville, CA 94526 (925) 314-3302 | (925) 838-0548 (Fax) |