Telepeer

Power up on these electric bike safety tips

July 10, 2024

By Dr. Theodore Heyming

Contributing Columnist

Concussions. Broken arms and legs. Skull fractures. Facial contusions.

Riding an electric bike, or e-bike, can result in injuries far worse than scraped knees and elbows.

In fact, over the last five years (July 2019 to June 2024), a total of 160 e-bike riders required treatment at the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County for traumatic injuries.

That’s an average of more than three a month.

Fourteen of these riders ended up in the intensive care unit, and nine underwent surgery.

Safety first

Sales of e-bikes began exploding during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the rising number of injuries, calls are growing for stronger age requirements for riders, as well as more rigorous state-level advocacy and policy. In this context, safety has become even more important.

Let’s start with the obvious: helmets. An alarming 45% of CHOC patients reported they were not wearing a helmet when they got hurt. So, make sure your e-bike rider wears a helmet with the chin strap fastened (the same goes for manual bikes, scooters, etc.)

When it comes to the ages of e-bike riders, it’s no surprise to learn that teens in the pre-driving stage account, by far, for most of those who get hurt. Of the 160 traumatic injuries reported at CHOC, 60% involved riders ages 13 to 15. Fourteen-year-olds dominated the list, at 49.

One injured rider was less than a year old, and five were 4-year-olds – victims of injuries caused by riding on an e-bike with an adult or being struck by an e-bike while walking.

Injury prevention tips

So, besides helmets, what else can you do to reduce the number of e-bike injuries?

First off, don’t ride on an e-bike with someone else. There should be no more than one rider on an e-bike at a time to reduce the risk of falling off of it.

Also, learn how to operate an e-bike. Unfortunately, there is no formalized road safety course required to use one.

Note that there are three different classes of e-bikes, and that there are no current age restrictions for riders of electric bikes in Classes 1 and 2 – bikes that stop providing assistance once the bicycles reach 20 mph.

Class 3 e-bikes, which stop providing assistance when the bicycle reaches 28 mph, require the rider to be a minimum of 16 years old.

Next, stay visible. Some drivers may take a turn in front of riders or come dangerously close to sideswiping them as they ride in the bike lane.

Also, choose a bike with lights to remain visible after dark. And consider purchasing rearview radars (an accessory) for installation on your e-bike. These radars can sense and alert riders of vehicles approaching from behind.

Above all, slow down!

The biggest risk associated with e-bikes is speed. Because e-bikes can travel up to around 30 mph, speed can cause more severe injuries.

Theodore Heyming, M.D., is medical director of emergency medicine at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Local News |

Support for legal abortion has risen since Supreme Court eliminated protections, poll finds

Local News |

The concierge catch: Better access for a few patients disrupts care for many

Local News |

Life and death under fire in Gaza’s ‘safe zones’

Local News |

Closing of rural hospitals leaves towns with unhealthy real estate

Local News |

The Supreme Court just limited federal power. Health care is feeling the shockwaves

Orange County Register

News Details

Power up on these electric bike safety tips

Safety first

Injury prevention tips

Related Articles

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS