Electric bikes can be fast and dangerous. Here’s how to stay safe.
Electric bikes can be fast and dangerous. Here’s how to stay safe
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A 14-year-old boy was cycling at around 25 mph on an electric bike when he collided with Janet Stotko as she walked. The impact left her unconscious and bleeding on a sidewalk in her Minnesota neighborhood. The 2024 accident nearly ended her life, with severe brain injuries, a facial fracture, and a broken eardrum. After two days on a ventilator, three weeks in the hospital, and brain surgery, she survived, leaving even her medical team astonished. During a follow-up visit, her doctors remarked,
“Wow, we can’t believe you’re here.”
Rising Safety Concerns
While electric bikes are praised for their convenience, eco-friendliness, and affordability compared to cars, their growing popularity has raised alarms about safety. A University of California, San Francisco study revealed that e-bike-related injuries nearly doubled annually between 2017 and 2022. Similarly, in San Diego, injuries among riders under 18 jumped 300% from 2019 to 2023, according to a UC San Diego analysis.
Classification and Regulations
Under federal guidelines, most e-bikes are categorized as nonmotorized vehicles, similar to standard bicycles. This means riders don’t need a driver’s license, insurance, or a helmet. However, many states have implemented stricter rules. For example, Connecticut now mandates helmets for all e-bike users and requires a license for models with motors exceeding 750 watts. Meanwhile, New York City limits e-bike speeds to 15 mph, and Florida lawmakers proposed a bill restricting speeds to 10 mph near pedestrians.
Diverse Speed Categories
States often classify e-bikes into three main types: Class 1 units assist riders up to 20 mph while pedaling, Class 2 throttle-based models reach 20 mph without pedaling, and Class 3 provide pedal-assist up to 28 mph. Some faster versions, known as e-motos, can exceed 40 mph without pedaling. These are often treated like motorcycles, prohibiting their use on sidewalks and paths. Yet, in other regions, there are no specific rules governing these high-speed variants.
Expert Recommendations
John Maa, a general surgeon at MarinHealth Medical Center, highlights that higher speeds correlate with greater injury risks.
“It’s Newton’s principles, right? Force equals mass times acceleration, and kinetic energy is mass times velocity squared,”
he explained. To navigate the evolving regulations, riders should understand their bike’s specifications. Check the top speed, motor wattage, and whether it requires pedaling or uses a throttle. Vehicles outside the standard three-class system may fall under motor vehicle laws, disqualifying them from shared-use paths.
Charles DiMaggio, a public health researcher at NYU’s medical school, advises,
“The first thing we always tell people is to familiarize themselves, read the manual, watch instructional videos, and review their specific model.”
He also recommends visiting a local bike shop to ask questions, test-ride, and verify legal requirements. Safety experts across hospitals and medical organizations emphasize helmets as a critical measure, alongside defensive riding practices and the use of front and rear lights.
