There was a time when sharing a Falls Church sidewalk was relatively simple: pedestrians walked, bicycles passed by and cars stayed on the street.

That world is changing quickly.

E-bikes, electric scooters and other motorized devices have become increasingly common around the Little City. Some can travel considerably faster than a traditional bicycle, while smartphones have simultaneously created another challenge: drivers, pedestrians and riders who aren’t always looking at where they’re going.

Put those together in a compact, walkable city and there is an increasingly important message for everyone: look up, slow down and pay attention.

Falls Church Police have already taken notice.

The department recently launched a public education initiative after reporting that it is seeing more children and adults riding bicycles, scooters, e-bikes and other devices in ways that may put themselves and others at risk. Police are also reminding residents that not everything that looks like an e-bike or scooter is necessarily legal to operate on public streets, sidewalks or trails.

Part of the difficulty is that “e-bike” can describe machines with significantly different capabilities.

Virginia recognizes three classes of electric power-assisted bicycles. Class 1 bikes provide assistance only while the rider is pedaling, with assistance ending at 20 mph. Class 2 bikes can propel themselves without pedaling, but assistance ends at 20 mph. Class 3 bikes provide assistance while the rider is pedaling, with assistance ending at 28 mph. To qualify as an electric power-assisted bicycle under Virginia law, the motor can have an input of no more than 750 watts.

That means a legal electric bicycle capable of assisting its rider to nearly 30 mph may be sharing space with pedestrians, conventional bicycles and automobiles.

And that is where attention matters.

A pedestrian looking at a phone may step into a crosswalk without noticing a turning vehicle. A driver checking a notification may fail to see a bicycle approaching. An e-bike rider moving considerably faster than a pedestrian expects may suddenly encounter someone walking out of a business, driveway or side street.

Each person may believe someone else is paying attention.

That is exactly when dangerous situations can develop.

Virginia law generally permits e-bikes on sidewalks, although local governments and other public entities can restrict their use in certain locations. Riders using sidewalks and shared-use paths must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing.

Drivers have responsibilities as well. Virginia law requires motorists overtaking bicycles and e-bikes to pass at a reasonable speed and provide at least three feet of clearance. If there isn’t enough room to safely do that within the lane, the driver must change lanes.

The growing popularity of e-bikes, scooters and similar devices has generated enough concern that Virginia lawmakers have now ordered the Department of Motor Vehicles to convene a statewide work group to examine their safety.

The group is tasked with considering whether Virginia needs new regulations or legislation governing electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized scooters, mopeds and similar devices. Its recommendations are due to General Assembly transportation leaders by Nov. 1.

The News-Press will take a deeper look at Virginia’s growing e-bike debate, including questions about speeds, ages, classifications and enforcement, in an upcoming issue.

For now, improving safety doesn’t necessarily require waiting for another law.

Falls Church Police are specifically asking families to talk with children about safe riding habits and review what type of e-bike they are using to ensure that it meets legal standards. The department’s guidance also tells parents and riders to research devices before buying them, understand where they can legally be used, make helmets and safe riding non-negotiable and supervise younger riders.

Virginia law also prohibits anyone under 14 from operating a Class 3 e-bike unless under the immediate supervision of someone at least 18 years old.

But responsibility doesn’t stop with e-bike riders.

Drivers can put down their phones and check crosswalks before turning. Pedestrians can look up before stepping into the street. Riders can slow down around people and announce themselves before passing. Parents can find out exactly what their children are riding — and how fast it can go.

Technology can help Falls Church Police investigate incidents. Cameras, license plate readers and other tools may help establish what happened afterward.

But preventing an accident requires something far less sophisticated.

Put the phone down. Take out the earbuds. Slow down. Look both ways. Expect the unexpected.

Whether you’re behind a steering wheel, holding handlebars or simply walking down a Falls Church sidewalk, the most important safety technology may still be paying attention.