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Residents urge stricter e‑bike rules after Lake Forest crash
Summary
Public commenters told the Lake Forest City Council they are fearful of reckless e‑bike and e‑scooter riders after the April crash that killed longtime substitute teacher Ed Ashman, urging local action and coordinated state rules to limit dangerous behavior and modified vehicles.
Public commenters at the Lake Forest City Council meeting on May 5 urged the council to strengthen enforcement and update local rules for electric bicycles and similar vehicles after a recent fatal collision.
At the meeting, 19‑year‑old Catherine Cosper described ongoing anxiety about teenagers riding e‑bikes and e‑scooters around town center and called for greater enforcement of existing laws. “The accident that took Mister Ed Ashman's life was preventable,” Cosper said, urging the council to honor him “with new regulations and greater enforcement.”
Sean Fletcher, a 24‑year resident, asked the council to partner with neighboring cities and state officials, including Assemblywoman Diane Dixon, to pursue legislative changes. Fletcher recommended limiting Class 2 e‑bike use in city parks to licensed drivers, increasing penalties for illegal e‑bike modifications and pursuing a coordinated regional approach rather than a patchwork of local rules.
Why it matters: speakers tied the pleas to a local fatality on April 16 involving an e‑motorcycle and said that rapidly evolving vehicle technology outpaced current rules. Residents framed the issue as one of public safety for drivers, pedestrians and riders, emphasizing both criminal acts and widely observed reckless young riders.
Council response: the mayor and council members thanked speakers and noted staff will continue working with law enforcement and neighboring jurisdictions. No ordinance was introduced at the May 5 meeting; public commenters asked the council to seek state‑level changes and to increase local enforcement where possible.
What’s next: citizens urged a coordinated campaign with nearby cities and state representatives. Council members signaled interest in continuing discussions with law enforcement and staff about options that could include increased enforcement, targeted education and requests for state rule changes.
