editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
September 2025 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& SEPTEMBER 2025
ROLL RESPONSIBLY: E-BIKES, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SAFETY
By Traci Wyss
The first patents for electric bicycles date back to 130 years ago. While the e-bike isn’t new, e-bikes of today are faster and more technologically advanced than early inventors could have imagined. E-bike use has skyrocketed in recent years from a niche commuter market, exclusive to those who could afford the pricey vehicle, to an increasingly accessible mode of transportation appealing to families, commuters and teens zipping about town. While California has had e-bike classifications and laws in place for nearly a decade, it can be tricky for parents to navigate the laws to make the best decision for their family. The accessibility of information for tweens and teens to alter their e-bikes raises concerns about safety for both riders and the broader community. This article will unpack the benefits and risks of e-bikes, current laws in place and what you can do to enjoy the benefits of e-bikes legally and safely. According to the US Department of Energy, there were over 1.1 million e-bikes sold in 2022—four times as many as were sold in 2019. This popularity continues to explode as commute costs and traffic congestion increase. E-bikes saw a surge in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic, when cycling and other outdoor activities saw major growth Visit https://danvilletowntalks.org/notmykid to for overall. A desire for more resources, information and training about e-bike safety. environmentally friendly transportation has also contributed to e-bike industry growth. E-bikes are an attractive option for parents letting kids ride to school, thereby avoiding traffic jams and drop-off lines. The e-bike offers electric assistance to increase riding distance and make hills a breeze where a traditional bike would not be feasible. Getting kids outside and away from screens can be a huge benefit of e-bikes. The freedom they offer for youth to get to a friend’s house, sports or school without zapping all your energy for your next activity makes the e-bike a critical part of many people’s day. In 2015, California officially codified e-bike laws by creating a classification system for e-bikes. The State of California Department of Motor Vehicles outlines the rules by first defining an e-bike as, “a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.” The section goes on to identify three classes of e-bikes as: Class 1: A low speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor
See Bikes continued on page 8
DANVILLE CITIZENS POLICE ACADEMY
If you want to get an extended look at what law enforcement is like, consider attending the Danville Citizens Police Academy. The Fall Academy begins on Wednesday, October 1st. Classes are held in-person on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 9pm for six consecutive weeks with a Saturday session October 18th. Classes may include the following topics: patrol procedures, traffic enforcement, impaired driving, investigations, crime scene processing, crime prevention techniques, criminal prosecution, and driving instruction. If you have questions, or would like to register for the next academy, visit danville.ca.gov/citizensacademy or contact Lindsay Ortiz at 925-314-3717 or lortiz@danville.ca.gov.
POSTCARDS FROM THE HEDGE By Jill Appenzeller
THE BOUNTY GARDEN
Forty five beds, and no one sleeps in them. A hive, but of volunteers, not bees. A sustainable organic garden, a garden that has provided more than 25,000 pounds of fresh produce to local people who would otherwise not have fresh stuff. It was the vision of one young Athenian School student, who was looking at local Food Banks and saw there was a dearth of fresh produce. She set out to change that, and she did. When she moved away to college, her mother and a hive of volunteers carried on. It is the Bounty Garden. It’s in Hap Magee Park, at the back if you’re looking from the parking lot. They grow mostly vegetables in those 45 beds. Now there are tomatoes and peppers, zucchini and eggplant, cucumbers. In fall they plant
See Bounty continued on page 14
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, & Danville
Volume XXV Number 9
Volume XVI Number 9
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
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