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Ross council hears Safe Routes update as police and school tighten e-bike rules
Summary
Ross police and the Ross School outlined a Safe Routes to School check-in, reporting near-universal compliance with a ban on Class 2/3 e-bikes on campus and renewed traffic-calming work near school routes. Officials emphasized education-first enforcement and cross-agency coordination.
Ross Town Council on a recent night heard an update on its Safe Routes to School program, including new measures to curb potentially hazardous e-bike use and several traffic-calming steps around local schools.
Chief Pada and Ross School Superintendent David Rice described a task force that moved its first meeting to August to plan proactive interventions for the 2024'25 school year. Chief Pada said enforcement has favored education, paired with selective citation-writing after an initial outreach month: "We started with an education campaign for about a month, and then we started writing citations, and I think it's been effective." Rice told the council the schools and police jointly drafted a community letter asking that Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes not be brought onto campus during the school day because manufacturers recommend riders be 16 or older.
The presenters credited an ongoing police'school relationship and specific programs, such as "pizza with the police" and coordinated walk-and-ride events, with improving compliance and behavior. Rice said the e-bike restriction has been "95% successful," while acknowledging some students have found workarounds.
Public Works Director Rich Simmonich described near-term traffic-safety work tied to school routes, including additional signage, stripe restoration on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, and lead pedestrian intervals at a major intersection. Council members asked when 15 mph school-zone signs (for Lagunitas and Fern Hill) would be installed; Simmonich said the signs have been ordered and will be installed within weeks.
Councilors urged continued focus on both infrastructure (crosswalks, pavement markings and lighting) and behavior-change programs to make routes safer for children walking and biking. The presentation concluded with a call for ongoing collaboration between police, schools and public works to maintain gains and roll out further improvements.
