Are Electric Bikes (E-bikes) Safe?
Overview
Riding a bike can be fun, great exercise, and a good way to get kids outdoors and off their devices. Rather than just pedaling the old-fashioned way, some people are turning to electric bikes (e-bikes). These give riders a power boost, making pedaling easier or taking away the need to pedal at all.
Many kids and teens are eager to ride an e-bike, but parents are naturally worried about safety. Here’s what you need to know about e-bikes, and how to decide if riding one is a good idea for your child.
What Is an Electric Bicycle (E-bike)?
An e-bike is a bike with an electric battery that assists with pedaling or pedals for you. E-bikes can reach speeds of about 20 to 30 mph, although road conditions, motor type, and rider behavior can affect speed. High performance e-bikes can go even faster.
There are two main types of e-bikes:
- Class 1 & Class 3. These are powered by the pedaling of the rider plus the rechargeable electric battery. The amount of power that the battery puts out is based on two things: how hard the rider pedals and the power-level the rider chooses on the e-bike.
- Class 2. These can be propelled by a throttle (lever that controls speed) or by pedaling. The throttle mode can be used if the rider does not wish to pedal.
Safety
Are E-bikes Safe for Kids?
E-bikes are not considered safe for kids. Research shows that e-bikes can be more dangerous than regular bikes. They cause a higher number of injuries (and more severe ones) and deaths than regular bikes. One reason is that they travel at much higher speeds.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in the five years between 2017 and 2022 e-bikes accounted for:
- about 53,000 emergency room (ER) visits (and likely more not treated in the ER)
- 104 deaths
As a result, the CPSC says that e-bikes are not recommended for kids younger than age 9.
For kids ages 9 to 12, they should not operate anything that travels faster than 10 mph, as higher speeds are linked to injuries. Since most e-bikes can reach speeds much higher than this, it’s not a good idea for kids this age to ride e-bikes, either.
What About Teens?
Most health experts don’t recommend that older kids ride e-bikes. But if they do, they should be at least 16 years old.
Some states have laws for the minimum age required to ride an e-bike, and some communities even restrict them altogether. Learn about the laws in your area. Your state might have a minimum age or even require a license, registration, or insurance for riding.
Preventing Injuries
How Can Riders Reduce E-Bike Injuries?
Before saying “yes” to an e-bike, consider your child’s age, skill level, maturity, and ability to navigate a vehicle that can go as quickly as 30 miles per hour.
Anyone who rides an e-bike should first learn the rules for how to operate it safely. Your school district or town may offer training courses that help people learn how to handle an e-bike, and what safety guidelines to follow.
Teens can practice riding in a safe location where there's no car or foot traffic. Remind them to follow the rules of the road, riding only where permitted.
Rules of the Road
To help prevent injuries, all riders should:
- Wear a helmet on every ride.
- Dress for safe riding. Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing, and wear light-reflective clothing or tape at night.
- Put a light on the e-bike if riding at night.
- Learn how to control the speed.
- Never ride and text or make phone calls. Teach kids to keep any phone in their pockets until they are off the road in a safe location.
- Do not use earbuds or earphones while riding.
- Be a defensive rider. This means being aware of pedestrians, road debris, potholes, opened car doors, or anything else that could pose a safety risk.
- Signal to others on the road. Kids should learn how to make their presence known to others by using hand signals or giving a shout-out to those who might not see them coming.
- Obey all safety laws and ride only where allowed.
Just because e-bikes are growing in popularity, doesn’t mean they are right for everyone. Consider safety first when making decisions about e-bike riding for your kids.