Town schedules e-bike safety town hall after fatal e-bike crash

The Town of Jupiter will host a public town hall on e-bike safety at 6 p.m. Thursday in council chambers after a fatal e-bike crash the prior week, Town Manager Frank Kitzaro said at the March 18 meeting.

Kitzaro said the forum will include a summary from the Jupiter Police Department on the laws governing e-bike use and steps the town has taken to educate residents. "The COPCN is necessary to provide medical services and ambulance transportation," Kitzaro said when discussing public-safety items; the COPCN reference relates to a separate, scheduled review for the town27s new Jupiter Fire Rescue application with the Palm Beach County EMS Advisory Council.

Councilor Andy Ford described the crash and urged parents to check e-bikes for alterations. Ford, who said he works as a forensic engineer, explained the speed risk from modified e-bikes: "When these bikes are going 50 miles an hour, it's possible to do incredible harm to your body," Ford said, adding that kinetic energy increases with the square of velocity, which raises stopping distances and control problems.

Vice Mayor Sundstrom said police have conducted education and enforcement efforts for more than a year and invited residents to bring questions and ideas to the town hall; she also said the session will be livestreamed on the town's Facebook page and website. Sundstrom said she had spoken with Representative Snyder, who is reviewing the issue at the state level.

The town manager and council framed the town hall as an opportunity for residents to offer suggestions and for officials to review enforcement, education and legislative options following the tragedy.