Lake Forest E-Bike Town Hall Stresses Proper Use, Safety Measures

LAKE FOREST, CA — Nearly a month after a San Juan Capistrano woman was killed in a fatal crash on her e-bike, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will continue a series of safety town hall meetings next week in Lake Forest.

The event, which will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, will focus on the dangers and regulations about e-bikes. The town hall will feature Providence Mission Hospital Trauma Medical Director Dr. Tetsuya Takeuchi as well as members of the sheriff’s department. The event will be held at the Lake Forest Civic Center.

The town hall will focus on preventative measures after the sheriff’s department has dealt with several incidents involving e-bikes. In September, Jennifer Lee Macy, 36, was riding her e-bike on the San Juan Trail just beyond Dana Point, crashed her bike and died, police said at the time of the crash.

Macy’s two children, both of whom were wearing helmets, were on the bike with their mother at the time of the accident. Both were seriously injured.

A sheriff’s department spokesman said Friday that events like the one next week in Lake Forest are designed to educate the public regarding the safety and proper use of e-bikes.

“Laws surrounding electric bicycles tend to change depending on what city you are riding in,” Orange County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Ryan Anderson wrote in an email. “It is important to always check the laws in the particular city you are riding.