More than a month after 14-year-old Owen Harris was killed while riding an e-bike in Pacific Beach, families and local leaders gathered Sunday at Pacific Beach Middle School to honor his memory and teach young riders how to stay safe. The free seminar was organized by the office of San Diego Coun ty Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and several local organizations, including the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. Teens received free helmets and learned about e-bike regulations and responsible riding. Harris attended Pacific Beach Middle School. He died last month after a car hit him while he was riding his e-bike and turning at a red light. A memorial remains near Olney Street and Balboa Avenue. Victoria Sachs, a parent who bought her teenage son an e-bike about a year ago, said her family weighed the benefits of giving him more independence against the safety concerns. Before buying the bike, the family completed online training, attended a safety class and established a contract with rules for riding. Sachs said parents should research the bikes and applicable laws, set boundaries and maintain open conversations with their children. Her son can ride only on certain neighborhood streets, is restricted from riding at night and is not allowed on busy roads. Sachs said she wants him to enjoy the freedom of riding with friends while making sure he returns home safely. She also urged e-bike manufacturers to provide accurate information, saying parents may rely on their children’s understanding of the differences between e-bike classes. Kevin Baross, education manager for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, said the organization advocates for safer bike infrastructure while also educating riders about the rules of the road. California recognizes three classes of e-bikes, each with specific requirements. Baross said some devices marketed or used like e-bikes may actually be mopeds, motorcycles or off-road vehicles that are not legal to ride on public streets. He said the goal is to help riders understand what they are using and whether it meets the requirements for street use. “An e-bike is a tool. You can use a tool in a good way, you can use a tool in a bad way,” Baross said. The event comes as local officials respond to rising e-bike injury numbers. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan earlier this month to create a regional e-bike injury warning system intended to track where injuries occur, who is being hurt and what types of devices are involved. Rady Children’s Hospital reported that pediatric e-bike trauma cases in the county increased from three in 2021 to more than 260 in 2025. San Diego police data also showed reported e-bike crashes in the city nearly quadrupled, from at least 23 in 2021 to at least 84 in 2025. Baross said e-bike use surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While use among adults has leveled off or declined slightly, he said, it continues to rise among children. He said the goal of safety education is not to discourage e-bike use, but to help young riders and their parents understand the risks and follow the rules. More than 50 families signed up for Sunday’s event. Lawson-Remer’s office plans to hold additional e-bike safety events and helmet giveaways next year, though dates have not yet been set. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less