South Jordan posts Halloween safety guidance, urging walking over e-bikes

South Jordan posted Halloween safety guidance on its city news feed on Oct. 21, ten days before the holiday, in a notice that asks parents, drivers and riders to watch for each other after dark 1.

The post opens on visibility. It asks families to add reflective strips, glow sticks, flashlights or other light-up accessories to costumes, to check that masks and accessories do not interfere with a child's ability to see, hear or move, and to keep costumes short enough to prevent tripping 1.

It repeats the crossing rules and applies them to drivers as well: children should use sidewalks where they exist, cross at designated crosswalks and look both ways, and drivers should slow down, stay alert and expect children to cross where they are not expected 1.

The city's strongest recommendation concerns wheels. It asks residents to consider leaving e-bikes and scooters at home on Halloween, citing crowded sidewalks, dark streets, parked cars and children moving unpredictably, and says walking is often the safest option for trick-or-treating 1.

For families who ride anyway, the post restates equipment and age limits it attributes to Utah law: anyone under 21 must wear a helmet, children under 8 may not legally operate an e-bike, riders ages 8 to 14 need adult supervision on Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes that assist up to 20 mph, and Class 3 e-bikes, which assist up to 28 mph, are restricted to riders 16 and older 1. The post adds that vehicles exceeding those limits, or not meeting the legal definition of an e-bike, may be classified differently and may not be legal for neighborhood use 1.

The notice does not set trick-or-treat hours, list a city-sponsored Halloween event, or describe any enforcement plan 1. It closes by asking parents to talk with children about street safety before they go out, drivers to slow down, and riders to give trick-or-treaters space 1.