To the editor:

I am writing in response to your Oct. 28, article concerning the growing controversy surrounding electric bicycles and electric scooters in Barrington and the many follow up comments supporting control or limitation guidelines.

The article presents another subscriber's argument that children should not be criminalized for using these vehicles, that e-bikes and e-scooters enhance their ability to socialize and visit friends, and that their use reduces the need for parents and other adults to transport children. 

While I understand the appeal of these arguments, I believe they place far too much emphasis on convenience and independence while giving insufficient consideration to the serious safety risks these vehicles present. (Enclosed was a publishing from the New York Post on Nov. 4, 2026.)

At these ages, children are naturally imbued with the desire to have fun, maximizing thrill, often with little appreciation for safety or the potential consequences of their actions. This is precisely why laws and regulations exist: to prevent risky activities that can result in life-changing consequences. The fact that children enjoy using these vehicles does not make their operation safe or appropriate for their age and level of maturity.

I take particular exception to the suggestion that children should use their own electric scooters or bicycles to travel to school instead of being transported by a parent, grandparent, or other supportive adult. Carpooling with a child is one of life's greatest treasures. Among the numerous responsibilities that occupy an adult's day, the time spent transporting a child is one of the greatest, if not the best, opportunities to spend meaningful time together.

Some of my most memorable experiences were driving my three sons to school and having occasional conversations with them along the way. I now look forward to having that same experience with my grandson; Electric scooters be damned!

Independence with children comes soon enough. There is no need to advance it. As children gain independence, they also experience a degree of detachment. We should not be so quick to sacrifice these opportunities for meaningful interaction in favor of allowing young children to operate motorized vehicles on public roads.

The safety concerns are not hypothetical. The Barrington Times article itself reports that a 15-year-old Barrington boy suffered serious injuries in a collision involving a car while riding an e-scooter. Police Chief Michael Correia has explained that the concern is not criminalizing children, but preventing serious accidents. He has also noted that many young riders do not know the rules of the road, have not taken driver education, and have not passed a driver's examination. Dr. Blake Taylor describes the devastating injuries he has treated, including traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, bleeding around the brain, brain swelling, and injuries requiring emergency surgery. The article (in the Post) also describes the potential for spinal cord, pelvic, and facial injuries.

These are not minor scrapes and bruises. A collision or fall can result in permanent disability, life-altering neurological damage, or death. Children should not have to suffer such consequences simply for the enjoyment of riding these vehicles. Need I remind everyone that no tests, examinations, or recommendations from parents or

teachers are generally required for children to access these e-bikes and e-scooters? There is no comparable requirement to establish that these young, unlicensed operators are qualified to operate vehicles capable of substantial speeds, often at ages when they may not fully appreciate the risks involved.

Parents who knowingly authorize or permit their children to operate these vehicles should understand that they may face legal consequences if their children are injured. The principles addressed in Silva v. Silva, 446 A.2d 1013 (R.I. 1982), concern circumstances in which a parent may be held responsible for injuries sustained by their own child as a result of the parent's negligence.

Separate from that issue, a parent may also potentially face liability when their child causes injury to another person. Depending on the circumstances, the doctrine of negligent entrustment may apply where a parent provides or entrusts a vehicle to a child whom the parent knows, or reasonably should know, is not competent to operate it safely. The potential for injury to other children, pedestrians, and motorists should not be overlooked.

The question is not simply whether children should be permitted to enjoy these vehicles or whether they provide a convenient means of transportation. The question is whether we should allow young, inexperienced, and unlicensed riders to operate motorized vehicles capable of substantial speeds without meaningful safeguards, exposing themselves and others to potentially catastrophic consequences. Minor children are not expected to make appropriate and safe decisions for their own well-being; they are not supposed to exercise these judgements at these ages to a degree in light of the consequences of permanent and life changing results for both the child and the family.

As a personal injury attorney, I see the consequences of preventable accidents and serious injuries. The medical evidence, the experiences reported in the Barrington Times, and the concerns raised by law enforcement should not be dismissed as an effort to criminalize children. They are legitimate concerns about protecting children and the public. If we say it is okay, they will not think twice about it, disregarding reflection on safety in favor of the thrill, which is inherent in adolescence.

In my view, the risks associated with these vehicles, particularly when operated by young children, are simply too great. These e-bikes and e-scooters should be totally prohibited, not only on town property but on roadways as well.

Our children represent the enlightenment of the present and future; we all have the same goal, to give them all we can. Safety comes first.

Sincerely,

Ronald J. Resmini, Esq.

Barrington