Fairfax County police officers will station themselves at two points along the W&OD Trail on Friday, Sept. 4, educating riders on which electric devices are allowed.

The event runs from 8 to 11 a.m. at the trail's Town Center Parkway crossing in Reston and at 8016 N. Park St. in Dunn Loring. It is part of a regional campaign organized by NOVA Parks and local law enforcement after a summer marked by crashes and a surge in complaints about unsafe behavior, FFXnow reported.

The 45-mile W&OD Trail runs through McLean, connecting it to communities across Northern Virginia.

The Sept. 4 officer stations are east of McLean, but the rules apply trailwide. NOVA Parks allows Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes on the trail, both capped at 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes, which offer pedal-assist up to 28 mph, are prohibited. Electric dirt bikes are also banned.

The initiative launched in Loudoun County on Aug. 1 and expanded into Fairfax County in September. It follows a difficult stretch for e-bike safety in the region. An e-bike rider was seriously injured in a crash in Dunn Loring in May. On July 23, a 9-year-old boy was killed after his e-scooter struck a minivan in Herndon's Highland Mews neighborhood.

At a July 24 press conference about that fatal crash, Capt. Harold Morris, the Fairfax County Police Department's assistant traffic division commander, urged caution. "We want to take this time to also ensure that everyone understands that with these electric vehicles, with bicycles, whether you're a pedestrian on the road, that you want to take safety precautions at all times," Morris said.

The county's Board of Supervisors had already updated its ordinances before the July crash, requiring anyone under 15 to wear a helmet while riding an e-bike, scooter, or motorized skateboard. The mandate previously applied only to traditional bicycles.

Vienna police also warned in July that some children are removing speed limiters from their e-bikes or turning them off entirely. Once modified, the devices are no longer classified as e-bikes under Virginia law and may be treated as mopeds or motorcycles.

Justin Wilson, NOVA Parks executive director, said in a statement that the campaign reflects a coordinated effort across jurisdictions to keep trail users safe. Two more free events follow in September.

The Herndon Police Department will host an e-bike information session at the Herndon Community Center, 814 Ferndale Ave., from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Spanish interpretation will be available, and no registration is required.

On Saturday, Sept. 26, Herndon and Vienna police will co-host a Two Towns Bike Rodeo at 138 Church St. NE from 9 a.m. to noon. The event features a cone course, helmet fitting and rules-of-the-road instruction.

NOVA Parks is also planning an e-bike safety event with the Arlington County Police Department. Details had not been announced as of Sept. 3.