Electric bicycles and scooters are not going away, and the problems they cause are not getting any better. They’re getting worse.

Too many parents are giving too young children too many of these turbo-charged devices, and empowering them with too much freedom to blaze around town with their friends. Ridden on quiet neighborhood streets, with wide spaces and little activity, these e-bikes and e-scooters can be safe. On a busy bike path, in a congested shopping center, or on narrow and busy roadways and sidewalks, they are not.

The Barrington Police Department has been addressing the problem for months. They’ve publicized the actual Rhode Island law — e-bikes are illegal for anyone under the age of 16. They’ve conducted patrols to educate and warn young riders and their families. And now they’ve gone a step further. They’ve worked with the owner of the Barrington Shopping Center to get e-bikes and e-scooters banned from that property.

As most everyone knows, the center has become the most popular hub for the middle school age group. Home to Shaw’s, Starbucks, CVS and Barrington Books, it seems to attract every young teen in town when weather permits. (Personally, we wish this crowd descended upon every basketball court, tennis court and empty ball field in Barrington, rather than pouring their parents’ money into candy and drinks at national chain stores, but it is what it is.)

Because the kids are there, zipping across sidewalks, darting among cars, and ignoring traffic laws they’ve never even learned, tragedy is inevitable. There is extremely high potential for some Barrington kid to eventually get maimed, crippled or killed.

Now the Barrington Shopping Center has banned them — for all ages, not just children. We applaud the change, and we suggest other commercial property owners should consider the same.

However, it would also be wise to accompany these changes with infrastructure to support their safe usage. Will the shopping center, or other private property owners, install racks or designated storage areas for e-bikes and e-scooters? These children are paying customers, and they deserve the same accommodations as their parents driving motor vehicles.

And what more should the town be considering as use of these devices proliferates? How about e-bike and e-scooter safety courses, courtesy of the town’s Recreation Department? Bike and scooter lanes on roads that can safely accommodate them? Dedicated e-bike and e-scooter racks at places like the public library, every park, and all schools?

The shopping center took a positive step forward, but more can be done.