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The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office is bringing back a program for young bicyclists and e-bike riders this summer, saying education and not fines can help prevent serious injuries, which are reportedly increasing.
The Juvenile Traffic Diversion Program, revived in partnership with Stanford Health Care’s Trauma and Injury Prevention Program, is aimed at children and teens who ride bicycles, e-bikes and other electric rideable devices, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Tuesday.
Under the program, youth who receive citations can attend a two-hour safety class with a parent instead of paying fines. The class covers traffic rules, safe riding habits and helmet use.
“Our deputies don’t want to penalize kids, we want to keep them safe,” said Sgt. Alan Slaugh of the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit. “This program allows us to hold young riders accountable while giving families the tools to prevent serious injuries.”
Stanford Health Care officials said they have seen an increase in preventable, life-altering injuries among children in recent months, many tied to bicycle and e-bike crashes.
Bike-related injuries were also the third-most common cause of trauma treated at the Stanford Trauma Center among adults in 2025, accounting for 243 cases, or about 8.5% of all trauma injuries.
Deputies said they plan to increase patrols in areas with heavy bicycle and e-bike use, and will watch for behaviors including running stop signs and red lights, riding the wrong way and helmet violations.
“This isn’t targeted enforcement,” Slaugh clarified. “It’s about making sure our young community members understand the rules of the road as they grow into future motorists.”
Dr. Joseph Forrester of Stanford’s Trauma and Injury Prevention Program said many head injuries from bicycle crashes can be prevented with proper helmet use.
“At the Trauma Center, our goal is simple: We never want to treat a child for an injury that could have been avoided,” he said in a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office.
The program is scheduled to begin this summer.
