Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Puts Bicycle, E-Bike and Scooter Safety in Focus During Rail Safety Month

Pacific Surfliner and California Operation Lifesaver use community art and local outreach to share timely safety guidance with Southern California riders

ORANGE, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As bicycles, e-bikes and scooters become increasingly popular ways to reach train stations and travel through Southern California communities, but potentially one that comes with a greater safety risk, Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner® is putting micromobility at the center of its Rail Safety Month campaign this September.

Bicyclists, e-bike riders and scooter riders face distinct hazards around railroad tracks, crossings and station platforms. Wheels can become caught in tracks, riders may misjudge the speed or distance of an approaching train and distractions can make warning signals easier to miss. Pacific Surfliner's new community art campaign will place practical safety reminders directly in stations and communities along the corridor, helping riders recognize these hazards and make safer decisions around the tracks.

WHY NOW:

• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that e-bikes were associated with 155,200 emergency department visits and 310 reported fatalities nationwide between 2017 and 2024. Approximately 59,200 of those emergency department visits occurred in 2024.
• E-scooters were associated with approximately 380,000 emergency department visits nationwide between 2017 and 2024, according to the same federal data.
• At Rady Children's Health Orange County, e-bike-related trauma visits increased from one patient in 2021 to 201 patients in 2025, becoming the leading cause of emergency department trauma visits at the hospital.
• Just this year, several communities along the LOSSAN Corridor have publicly recognized the safety hazards posed by e-bikes and e-scooters, with school districts and local law enforcement creating new regulations in hopes of curbing dangers and safety hazards.

Observed throughout California each September, Rail Safety Month brings together rail operators, public agencies, law enforcement and community partners to help people travel more safely and confidently around railroad tracks. From knowing where to cross to understanding signals and staying aware of one's surroundings, a few simple habits can help make every trip safer.

The Los Angeles – San Diego – San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency, which manages the Pacific Surfliner service, is partnering with California Operation Lifesaver (CAOL) and Southern California artist Fnu Clarissa of @sandiegopartybanner to turn that guidance into original artwork for stations and the communities they serve.

Beginning September 1, the artist-designed poster series will be displayed at San Diego Santa Fe Depot, Irvine Station, Los Angeles Union Station, Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center and Santa Barbara Station. Each installation will pair a clear safety reminder with a QR code connecting the public to rail safety resources, a safety pledge and the opportunity to enter to win a $100 Amtrak gift card.

"As more people across Southern California choose e-bikes, scooters and bicycles to reach our stations, it is important they understand how to navigate railroad tracks and platforms safely," said LOSSAN Managing Director Jason Jewell. "Together with our partners, we are turning proven safety guidance into memorable messages that remind passengers to take safety seriously."

Bicyclists, e-bike riders and scooter riders can help create a safer rail environment by following these practices:

• Cross tracks only at designated pedestrian or roadway crossings.
• Slow down when approaching a crossing and look in both directions.
• Follow all posted signs, signals, flashing lights and crossing gates.
• Look for the blue-and-white Emergency Notification System sign posted at railroad crossings.
• If you, another person or an object becomes stuck on the tracks, call the emergency number on the sign to alert authorities and help stop train traffic.
• Dismount from bicycles, e-bikes and scooters before crossing tracks.
• Walk bicycles, e-bikes and scooters across tracks at a 90-degree angle to prevent wheels from becoming caught in the rails.
• Never ride around or under lowered crossing gates.
• Wait until gates are fully raised and warning lights have stopped flashing before proceeding.
• Keep headphones, phones and other distractions put away when approaching or crossing tracks.
• Make sure there is enough room on the other side to clear the tracks completely.
• Dismount before entering a station and walk wheeled devices on platforms.
• Remain behind the marked safety line while waiting on a platform.
• Use handholds and watch your step when boarding or exiting a train.

Pacific Surfliner is also teaming up with California Operation Lifesaver to host an Operation Clear Track event on September 23 in Santa Ana near identified trespassing hot spots. Conducted in partnership and coordination with local law enforcement and community partners, the event will bring rail safety education directly to areas where unsafe activity near the tracks has been observed.

To view the artwork, take the safety pledge and enter the giveaway, visit PacificSurfliner.com/Pledge. No purchase is necessary; terms and conditions apply.

For more information on Rail Safety Month:

Pacific Surfliner: https://www.pacificsurfliner.com/rail-safety/

California Operation Lifesaver: https://caoperationlifesaver.com/rail-safety-month/

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About the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner

The Pacific Surfliner travels along a 351-mile coastal rail route through San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, serving 29 stations. It is the busiest state-supported intercity passenger rail route in the United States. To learn more and plan a trip, visit PacificSurfliner.com.

About the LOSSAN Rail Corridor Agency

The Los Angeles - San Diego - San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency is a joint powers authority overseeing management of the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service. Comprised of rail owners, operators and planning agencies along the 351-mile LOSSAN rail corridor, the agency works to improve passenger rail ridership, revenue, on-time performance, operational flexibility and safety throughout its service area. The Orange County Transportation Authority provides administrative support to the LOSSAN Agency and its board. For more information, visit LOSSAN.org.

About California Operation Lifesaver

California Operation Lifesaver is an independent nonprofit safety education and awareness program dedicated to ending collisions, fatalities and injuries at highway-rail grade crossings and on railroad rights of way throughout California.

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SOURCE Amtrak® Pacific Surfliner