KEY TAKEAWAYS: Bike Easy and BlueKrewe will host a free Smart E-Biking Workshop in New Orleans on Sept. 26. The program will cover e-bike safety, rider etiquette and state and local laws. The in-person workshop is limited to 15 participants, with a concurrent virtual session available through Zoom. Participants can earn an e-bike safety certificate, and in-person attendees will receive helmets and reflective gear.   Bike Easy and BlueKrewe are partnering on a new educational program aimed at improving e-bike safety as the use of electric bicycles and other micromobility options grows in New Orleans. The organizations will hold a free Smart E-Biking Workshop on Sept. 26 at Bike Easy’s headquarters above Bayou Bicycles in New Orleans. The program will also be offered virtually for people unable to attend in person. The workshop is designed for current and prospective e-bike riders and will cover safe riding practices, rider etiquette and state and local laws governing electric bicycles. Bike Easy, a New Orleans bicycle advocacy nonprofit, developed the program with BlueKrewe, the nonprofit operator of the city’s Blue Bikes electric bikeshare program. The organizations said the initiative is intended to expand education alongside growing interest in e-bikes as a transportation option. “Bike Easy is proud to include ‘Smart E-Biking’ as part of our educational programming which includes resources, safety tips and workshops like these to help people ride safely and legally,” Bike Easy board Vice President David Lee Simmons said. “We encourage everyone who either rides a bike or knows someone who does, to take advantage of this opportunity to make New Orleans safer for all road-users.” The in-person workshop will run from 2 to 7 p.m. and include a presentation, question-and-answer session, food and drinks and an opportunity to ride a Class 1 e-bike provided by BlueKrewe. Participants will also have the option of earning an “E-Bike Smart” certificate from the League of American Bicyclists. Bike Easy said people attending in person will receive free helmets and reflective belt vests. Attendance at the in-person program is limited to 15 participants and requires advance registration. A concurrent virtual session will be offered through Zoom from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. The organizations said the program will also educate riders about the differences among e-bikes and the rules governing their use, with a broader goal of promoting safe and responsible use of micromobility in New Orleans. Founded in 2003, Bike Easy focuses on bicycle education, advocacy and community programs throughout Greater New Orleans. ...read more read less