Santa Clarita enjoys more than 110 miles of paved trails and paseos — a civic treasure that lets us walk, jog and ride through our neighborhoods without ever crossing a major street. But lately, those peaceful paths have morphed into e-powered raceways. The same goes for sidewalks and even shopping-center colonnades. Once the province of walkers and cyclists, these spaces are increasingly invaded by new high-powered e-machines.

Electric bikes, scooters and small motorcycles now zip past walkers at 25, 30, even 35 mph. Too often, the riders are kids — unlicensed, untrained, unhelmeted — music blasting through earbuds as they weave through pedestrians. Parents shrug. Joggers dodge. Sooner or later, someone’s going to get badly hurt — maybe the rider, maybe an innocent bystander.

Concerned residents are urging our City Council to take action on e-vehicles: stronger enforcement, speed limits, education, and citations where needed.

I hope our leaders hear them. Because beneath all the talk about “fun” and “freedom,” there’s a truth I’ve lived:

One instant. One hit. One hard fall — change a life forever.

Ten years ago, halfway around the world, my daughter was an innocent pedestrian struck by a motorbike on a chaotic Indian street. We’d been shopping for saris for a wedding when my daughter, Katie, walked down the street for tailoring. Minutes later, a boy ran back shouting, “Your daughter’s been hit!”

My son and I tore down the street and found her crumpled on the curb — blood........

© Santa Clarita Valley Signal