A local bike enthusiast is raising awareness about the presence of e-bikes and scooters on the roads after a near-miss Tuesday evening in Mount Pearl.
Chef Steve Watson has a variety of bicycles – from a penny-farthing to an e-bike – and says some e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 20 km/h.
Watson says he nearly struck a rider who was part of a group traveling in the area of Topsail Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
He told VOCM’s Open Line with Brian Callahan that as the weather warms up, he’s seeing more and more young people out on e-bikes, but that can also be a problem especially after dark and with high snow banks still obscuring views.
“It was almost a close accident” says Watson. “Unfortunately, I did come upon an accident two years ago, and I was the first one on-site. That was an accident down on Water Street, and unfortunately, the gentleman didn’t survive, so it’s certainly top of mind for me. It’s rider beware, driver beware as well.”
