"E-bikes are under attack, but not for the right reasons. Headlines about crashes, bans, and reckless riding are becoming more common. But here's the problem: most of the "e-bikes" making the news aren't electric bicycles at all. It's time to set the record straight on what is and isn't an electric bicycle, how safety concerns are being misdirected, and what regulators, consumers, and communities can do to protect the future of electric bicycle riding for recreation and mobility."
"There are growing concerns in many communities across America about the safety of "e-bikes." These concerns are often centered around young people, who are increasingly turning to e-mobility devices for transportation well before they become licensed drivers. Lack of familiarity with the rules of the road, along with youthful enthusiasm, has sometimes led to unsafe behavior like speeding, riding on sidewalks, ignoring stop signs and traffic lights and even stunt riding on public roads and highways. Unruly behavior leads to social media posts, complaints to local officials, media reports and calls for more regulation of "e-bikes" or even outright bans. At its worst, unsafe behavior causes crashes, serious injuries, and even deaths of young riders."
"Electric bicycles are under increasing scrutiny, often for the wrong reasons. In a forthcoming three-part series, PeopleForBikes separates fact from fiction to protect the future of e-bikes in America, clarify what qualifies as a legal electric bicycle, and call out bad actors mislabeling high-powered motor vehicles as "e-bikes." This is Part I."
Electric bicycles face growing scrutiny driven largely by media reports of crashes and reckless riding, but many cited vehicles are not legally defined e-bikes. Confusion and mislabeling of high-powered motor vehicles as "e-bikes" distort public perception and policy responses. Youthful riders using e-mobility devices without full road knowledge contribute to unsafe behaviors like speeding, sidewalk riding, and ignoring traffic controls, sometimes resulting in serious injuries or deaths. Effective responses include precise definitions of legal electric bicycles, targeted regulation addressing true risks, product safety standards, safe infrastructure, and education for riders and communities.
Read at Streetsblog
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]