El Segundo Police Department hosted an EbikeSense safety class at Center Street School this morning, where students practiced helmet fitting, emergency stops and scanning drills to learn how to ride more safely among vehicle traffic.

The session, organized as part of the police department’s community outreach, combined a brief classroom presentation with on-bike drills. EbikeSense founder Megan Lam, noted by the reporter to have 25 years of teaching experience and 15 years as a triathlete, began offering safety classes in 2023; an on-site instructor led this morning’s practical exercises.

Instructors told students that real-world ebike riding is different from classroom rules: split-second decisions are required to match the flow of traffic and ebikes’ higher speeds make control harder. The instructor said they have trained nearly 2,000 children and frequently sees two recurring safety problems: “half the students either have a improperly fitted helmet” and many are relying on a single, loose brake, which prompted an emergency-stop drill so students could see brakes’ limitations firsthand.

Students then moved outside for drills. The instructor demonstrated a scanning drill — looking behind while keeping the bike straight — to prevent veering into traffic or parked cars. The instructor also warned that a faulty throttle or other mechanical problem is a reason to stop riding and get the bike serviced; they recommended routine checks every three to six months.

Students gave immediate feedback that the class helped. One student said, “I really liked her,” and another said they learned “how important it was to use two brakes because I only used one before.” A different student described the lesson as “very beneficial” and said they were excited to use the bike for school and outings with friends.

Organizers said more ebike safety classes will be offered next year; the El Segundo Police Department posts future classes on its events calendar. For El Segundo Media, Catherine Chen reported from Center Street School.