I have no problem with people riding e-bikes. They are great for those in the city who earn their wages by making deliveries, and many enjoy the freedom to cruise on them. I know several older adults that have been avid bikers who enjoy pedal assist e-bikes as an option. Most riders cruise at 15-23 mph, but the speeds can be as high as 28 mph.
On a recent walk with my husband in a New Jersey suburb, a young man came within six inches of hitting me full speed on his e-bike. It’s important to note that we were on a pedestrian sidewalk.This is not the first time we have felt threatened by an e-biker being careless about the safety of others. Anyone attempting to cross a New York City street has to look twice to make sure that a biker is not running a red light and zooming through an intersection.
Recent news stories have accounts of people being hit by e-bikes and even fatalities by the bikes’ riders. In New Jersey where I frequently drive my car, e-bike riders can be seen using car lanes, riding through public parks, racing in parking lots, and sometimes without wearing helmets for their own safety. I also have a concern for the age of riders who often appear to be very young teens and may not be properly educated about the rules of the road, hand signaling, the significance of road signage and the danger of speeding.
E-bike laws vary by state, and municipalities are also developing their own local regulations. Riders and parents of riders should know the class designation of their bikes, helmet use, age limits, equipment requirements such as reflectors, and access to sidewalks or trails. New Jersey is one of the states that has reclassified all e-bikes as motorized bicycles, requiring licensing, registration, and insurance by 2026. A program of education is also needed just as motorcycles and car drivers pass requirements to drive. Informative classes can be implemented in schools and communities.
The safety of pedestrians, bike riders, and drivers of cars depends on e-bike riders being careful, well informed and totally willing to comply with their local laws.
Top Shutterstock photo by Martha Graham
