Vermont’s roads are seeing more crashes involving pedestrians, bike and e-bike riders, scooters and other micromobility devices, and e-moto riders. How these crashes get reported shapes how the public understands traffic violence, particularly who’s at risk and who’s responsible.

The Conspiracy to Blame the Pedestrian

“It won’t be long before children won’t have any right at all in the streets.” 

Those are the words of a Philadelphia judge from the early 1920s, lecturing drivers from the bench about the newly invented automobile that had swept the country. He meant it as a warning. It turned out to be prophetic.

On Sunday, July 5th, I opened my checklist binder to the one for riding and swimming. I have a checklist for every conceivable activity. Checklists give me a sense of security.  I put my purple bathing suit on under my bike shorts and packed my pink bathing cap, tinted swimming goggles and lightweight camping towel. I also brought along my plastic banana holder to prevent my banana from bruising. Bananas are a good snack on a bike ride. As I left my house, I felt prepared, just like a Boy Scout but to paraphrase Robert Burns, the poet I share a last name with, the best laid plans can go awry.

Progress Made, More Work Ahead for Safer Streets in Vermont

The 2026 legislative session delivered important investments in active transportation and outdoor recreation, but did not advance several key policy updates needed to further improve safety on Vermont’s streets.

Local Motion, alongside our partners in the Transportation for Vermonters Coalition (T4VT), worked constructively with legislators, state agencies, and regional and local partners to elevate the policies impacting Vermonters’ ability to walk, bike, and roll safely. We deeply appreciate the collaboration of our partners, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, and members of both the House and Senate Transportation Committees, and look forward to continued engagement to move our legislative priorities forward.

Over the years I have seen many bike trends come and go. I have been part of some of the trends. I bought a mountain bike 40 years ago but I used it to ride around town, not for riding on trails. I have purchased and used a fat bike, and it has been a game changer for winter riding. I even have a couple of bikes that were early versions of gravel bikes. I have not yet bought an electric bike but as I get older that becomes a possibility. I also had a fixie bike. It was a Surly Steamroller. I rode it as a one speed bike but hills were a real challenge so I had it converted to a three speed fixie. Fixie means that there is no freewheel. When the bike is moving, the pedals also move. You can use the pedals as brakes by applying backwards pressure. 

Vermont communities are seeing a rapid increase in high-powered, high-speed, unregulated devices operating on streets, sidewalks, and shared use paths.

The problem is not with e-bikes. It is a different category of device entirely, what Local Motion and our national partners call "e-motos." E-motos have more powerful motors and are capable of significantly higher speeds than e-bikes, and often lack the ability to pedal entirely. The growing safety concerns we’re hearing across Vermont stem from the rise of these devices and their unclear legal status, not from the e-bikes Vermonters have long used responsibly.

The Vermont Walk/Bike Summit is a biannual event, bringing together planners, advocates, and experts in our community to learn and connect. This year, the Summit took place on Friday, May 8th in Bennington. All day long, Summit attendees joined in workshops on safe and healthy communities, economic development, and the built environment.

Local Motion, in partnership with AARP Vermont, the Preservation Trust of Vermont, and Front Porch Forum, announced today the recipients of a combined $10,000 in micro-grants from the Streets as Places Program. Launched in March, the program is designed to foster community connections, reimagine neighborhood streets as shared public spaces, and spark lasting local change. Grants were open to Vermont residents organizing events on neighborhood or village streets across the state.

The Town of Brattleboro was recently awarded a bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community designation from the League of American Bicyclists.

Over the years I have found additions to my bikes that have made my riding easier and safer.