Legislation to promote safety

The crash happened because a woman drove recklessly into a restaurant almost taking out 4 children. If she wasn't there, if she wasn't speeding, if she wasn't driving but driving her bicycle or walked, then nothing would have happened and the 4 kids would have been safe. She brought the danger, she is the killer.

John Maa outed himself as just another one of those "victim blamers". Like several San Mateo Democrats who always rant against children on the most sustainable, greenest, healthiest, high-density transportation mode out there.

I would actually not be surprised if we hear more from San Mateo Democrats like Mullin, Becker, Papan, Mueller, Colson, Newsom, Fernandez, Beach, etc ... how "dangerous children on e-bikes are".

That is the typical way bullies usually operate. Bullies don't punch up, they only punch down.

Instead of going after people their size and kind - speeding, drunk, distracted, addicted drivers - they bully children. If anything happens "thoughts and prayers" it is.

Yes, let's prevent future tragedies, but let's be smart about it:

- The crash is still under investigation. Thus, you should not use the term "accident", which diminishes any agency or ability to prevent future such crashes.

- The VEHICLE didn't accelerate. The driver accelerated the vehicle. There is no indication that the vehicle did this on its own. Preventing future tragedies means holding drivers accountable, when appropriate.

- There is no indication that the e-bike or the age of the e-bike driver caused the driver to accelerate into the restaurant. There are many valid concerns over kids riding vehicles amid dangerous auto traffic, but kids riding appropriately (per BPD) has not been demonstrated to have any causality as to the crash. If the e-bike drivers had been in their parents' SUV when colliding with the 19-year-old exiting the driveway, would the reason for the crash been any different?

- How would legislation banning Class II e-bike riding by <16 year-olds have prevented this crash? First, the kids were riding legally, per BPD. Second, if they were instead riding Class I e-bikes or non-motorized bikes (as they are allowed to by law), how would this have discouraged the driver from accelerating onto the far sidewalk?

- You ignore the incremental danger created by Americans driving larger vehicles (i.e., SUVs).

- You ignore the role of traffic engineers (and elected officials) in making decisions that prioritize vehicle speeds, parking availability, etc., over safety for those who walk.

Mr. Maa - perhaps it has escaped you that neither of these politicians have said a word about the traffic-caused fatalities. And do you truly believe that they will take any action now? They have different priorities, such as Trump bashing and redistricting.