Free e-bike and e-scooter safety events run 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, on the W&OD and Custis trails. See the three spots and what riders will learn there.

Arlington County and NOVA Parks will hold free trail safety events for e-bike, e-scooter and e-moto riders on Saturday, Nov. 7. Staff will be at three busy trail spots from 1 to 3 p.m. The county announced the events on Thursday. They are open to all ages.

The county said the events follow a rise in the use of e-bikes, e-scooters and e-motos. That rise has come with “a rise in crashes and safety concerns involving higher-speed devices,” it said.

Where to find them

All three run at the same time, 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7:

  • W&OD Trail at Columbia Pike, in the Glencarlyn Park seating area
  • Bluemont Junction Park, along the trail near the Bluemont Caboose
  • Langston Boulevard and North Lynn Street, by the Custis and Mount Vernon trails north of Gateway Park

What riders will get

The county said staff will cover:

  • the state and local laws enforced on Arlington trails and in the W&OD park
  • how to ride e-bikes, electric dirt bikes, electric scooters, mopeds and other electric devices safely
  • responsible riding and trail etiquette
  • examples of e-bikes that are allowed

Why now

The W&OD Trail is a 45-mile paved trail between Arlington and Purcellville. More than 2 million people use it each year, the county said.

NOVA Parks is revising its W&OD regulations to make clear which e-bikes are permitted. It has held similar events since Aug. 1 with Fairfax and Loudoun counties and the towns of Vienna and Herndon. Those are listed on NOVA Parks’ trail safety page.

“As e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos become more common in the region, we are also seeing an increase in crashes and safety concerns, especially among young riders,” said Maureen Coffey, vice chair of the Arlington County Board. She said the county is working to educate riders as part of its updated Vision Zero Action Plan. The plan aims for no traffic deaths or serious injuries on county streets and trails by 2030.

“NOVA Parks and our partner jurisdictions along the trail are working together closely to help ensure the safety of all trail users by hosting educational events and revising the W&OD regulations to clarify which e-bikes are permitted,” said Justin Wilson, executive director of NOVA Parks.

What it means for you

  • If a teenager in your house rides an e-bike or e-moto, this is a free chance to hear the trail rules from the people who enforce them.
  • If you are thinking of buying an e-bike, the displays show which models are allowed on the trails.
  • No sign-up is listed. Go to whichever spot is closest between 1 and 3 p.m.
  • Walkers and runners can stop by too. The events are open to all ages.

NOVA Parks has not yet published its revised W&OD e-bike rules. We will report them when it does.

For routes and trail maps, see our walking and biking trails guide and our parks and trails page. Current closures are on our road construction and closures page.

Frequently asked questions

When are the Arlington e-bike trail safety events?

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at three trail spots at the same time. They are free and open to all ages.

Where are the Arlington e-mobility trail safety events?

On the W&OD Trail at Columbia Pike, in the Glencarlyn Park seating area; at Bluemont Junction Park near the Bluemont Caboose; and at Langston Boulevard and North Lynn Street, by the Custis and Mount Vernon trails north of Gateway Park.

Who runs the trail safety events?

NOVA Parks and Arlington County, as part of a regional series with local governments and police that began Aug. 1.