I had a different topic lined up for this month, but a few recent encounters convinced me this couldn’t wait. With summer kicking off, we need to talk about the sudden explosion of kids riding electric mini-dirt bikes through our streets.

Before anyone writes me off as a grumpy neighbor yelling at kids to get off my lawn, I get it. If these fast, high-tech bikes existed when I was young, I would have loved to have one. Our options were limited to regular bicycles, roller skates, and skateboards (and I swore off the skateboard after seeing my brother break his arm off one). Watching kids outside, enjoying the fresh air beats the alternative of them staring at a screen all day. But as the adults on the road, we need to talk about their safety.

Yesterday, I was driving to my daughter’s house when two young boys on electric dirt bikes cut directly in front of me, riding down the middle of the road for several blocks. As they finally pulled onto the sidewalk, one gave me the one-digit salute. I just sighed, smiled, and kept driving. They’re kids, and they probably assumed I was annoyed at them.

On my way back, I entered a roundabout. We all know adult drivers who still struggle with them, but a boy who looked no older than twelve flew into the circle without even glancing to yield. Fortunately, I saw him coming and stopped. He didn’t even notice me; he was in his own world.

These aren’t isolated incidents. You see them everywhere now: popping wheelies in grocery store parking lots, zipping down park sidewalks, or tearing up the trails at Barr Lake like a motocross track. Most of these kids are entirely unaware of traffic laws, and their bikes lack turn signals or brake lights. They are thinking fun, not safety.

This isn’t a hypothetical danger. Last year, I came across a boy who had just collided with a car. He was sitting on the grass, shaken, a bit scratched up, but okay. He wasn’t wearing any protective gear. He got lucky, but as the weather warms up, we can’t hope on luck for our kids’ well-being.

It’s not our job, as drivers, to be improvised law enforcers or to ruin their fun. But it is our job to be the adults in the room. Here is how we can all cooperate:

Drivers: Put down the phones and slow down, especially in residential areas and parking lots. Anticipate kids zipping out from sidewalks without looking. If they flash a bit of teenage bravado or a rude gesture, ignore it. Be kind, give them space, and keep them safe anyway.

Parents: If you bought your child one of these bikes, please teach them the basic rules of the road and courtesy. Insist on helmets and safety gear, and remind them that cars cannot stop on a dime.

City Officials: We need clear, proactive guidance on where these high-powered e-bikes can and cannot be legally ridden. Law enforcement should be our last line of defense, not our first.

I believe we should be able to balance summer fun and community safety, but it takes all of us working together. Let’s look out for each other and ensure everyone has an enjoyable and safe summer.