SAUGUS Your Local News, Sports & More Online! Scan & Subscribe! Vol. 27, No.50 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Published Every Friday GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT 781-233-4446 Friday, December 12, 2025 Yikes! Beware of the E-bikes Saugus town, school and public safety officials launch a community campaign to protect kids and the general public from the dangers of electric bikes and their unsafe use on town streets and the bike trail By Mark E. Vogler D uring the town election this fall, public safety concerns over e-bikes and motorized scooters emerged as one of the main concerns of voters in Precinct 1, Town Meeting Member Mark J. Bell recalled this week as he looked back on his reelection campaign for a second two-year term. “Not only was this a big issue I kept hearing about during the Saugus election, but the 13-year-old child who unfortunately died in an e-bike crash in Stoneham happened in front of my parents’ house,” Bell told The Saugus Advocate this week. “My dad, who was a fireA MERRY MOMENT: Jayce Lutz, 4, of Miss Rina’s Preschool in Saugus, was the first child to share a moment with Santa Claus last Friday night in the second-floor auditorium at Saugus Town Hall. For many kids attending the town’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and Festivities, posing for a photo with Santa was the highlight. Please look inside for more photos and stories on how the town is welcoming in the holiday season. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) fighter for over 40 years, was one of the first on scene so that also hit close to home. He is a retired Cambridge firefighter. And, yes, Stoneham is where I grew up,” he said. What resonated as a top concern among Precinct 1 residents rapidly became a townwide issue of multiple facets that has stirred debate about public safety issues in communities across Massachusetts as well as at the State House in Boston. Feedback from Precinct 1 residents influenced Bell to start researching the existing laws and looking into how other towns are handling the issue. “During my research , I found that most communities are focusing on education and enforcement, with strong coordination between police, schools, parents and local officials rather than banning them completely,” Bell said of the e-bikes. “Here in Saugus, it might be a good idea to take a look at whether there are steps the town can take to make things safer for kids, adult operators and drivers on the roads. And if there are practical solutions to make it safer, then what would those solutions look like,” he said. Five weeks after the election, the issues that Bell is concerned about have gained momentum as other elected town officials and citizens are talking about their concerns publicly. Plans for a community foE-BIKES | SEE PAGE 2 Over 47 Years of Excellence! 1978 - 2025 Mid-grade Regular 2.73 3.37 3.47 $3.45 Full Service ULS $3.099 Order online at angelosoil.com Kerosene Now Available! FLEET CARD Check Out Our LOW PRICES!
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