As communities across the US continue grappling with the rapid rise of electric bikes and scooters, one Oregon sheriff’s office is introducing a new tool designed to help identify trouble spots before someone gets hurt.
According to a report from KPTV Fox 12, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has updated its online traffic complaint form with a new category specifically for reporting unsafe e-bike and e-scooter activity.
The move comes after deputies saw a noticeable increase in dangerous riding behavior, particularly among younger riders during the summer months. Captain David Huey explained that complaints have included riders traveling in the middle of traffic, speeding, performing wheelies in roadways, and even throwing objects at passing vehicles.
Rather than simply creating another place for neighbors to vent, the sheriff’s office says the reporting tool is intended to help identify patterns. Residents can submit the location, time, and description of incidents, along with photos if available, allowing deputies to determine where education campaigns or targeted enforcement may be most effective.
Officials say discussions about the new reporting option began months ago as concerns over reckless riding continued to grow. It’s a move we’ve seen before in similar moves, such as a program in Colorado encouraging locals to report bad riding behavior to the authorities.
Neighborhood leaders have welcomed the additional reporting option, though some remain skeptical about how much enforcement will ultimately be possible. In one local community, residents have reported damage to landscaping and irrigation systems caused by riders cutting through common areas.
The challenge, according to the sheriff’s office, is that many complaints involve behavior that’s difficult to enforce after the fact unless deputies witness it firsthand. By collecting reports over time, the department hopes to build a clearer picture of where problems are concentrated.
The agency also emphasized that the online form is intended for non-emergency complaints. Dangerous situations requiring immediate police response should still be reported by calling 911.
The approach reflects a growing trend among cities and counties trying to balance the enormous transportation benefits of e-bikes with the reality that a small percentage of irresponsible riders can create outsized safety concerns. As e-bike adoption continues to accelerate, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more jurisdictions introduce similar reporting tools to address dangerous behavior without penalizing the vast majority of riders who use their bikes responsibly.
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