"Martinez resident Staci DeShasier knew exactly what her 13-year-old son, Erik, wanted for the holidays: an electric bike a taste of independence for a kid not yet old enough to drive. But once she started researching e-bikes, DeShasier quickly realized the gift came with risks she hadn't anticipated. It's been a very complex thing to figure out, she said, adding that understanding the differences in e-bike classes and laws and how some devices are marketed has taken our family a year."
"Her experience reflects a growing challenge for parents and public safety officials as electric two-wheelers surge in popularity. What was once a relatively straightforward purchase has become a confusing marketplace that includes everything from pedal-assisted bicycles to throttle-powered scooters, mopeds and even motorcycles some of them marketed under the umbrella of e-bikes. That confusion has raised alarms across the Bay Area, where cities are scrambling to educate parents and riders as injuries garner headlines and regulators struggle to keep pace."
"One of the messages that we want to make sure parents have when shopping for their teens and younger is that it's not as simple or as intuitive as it probably ought to be, said Walnut Creek City Council member Cindy Darling, a former mayor who has focused on e-bike education during her tenure. It can be very difficult to discern what is what."
"The market's growth has been rapid. According to eCycleElectric, an international consulting firm and industry advisor, sales of e-bikes and similar vehicles have increased annually since 2017. The firm also estimates that 1.7 million e-bikes were imported into the United States in 2024 a 72% jump from the year before. Market analysis by Business Wire projects consumer demand will grow by 8.35% annually through 2032, when the U.S. e-bike market is expected to reach $50.75 billion."
Parents face confusion and safety concerns when buying e-bikes for teens because the marketplace mixes pedal-assisted bicycles with throttle-powered scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles marketed as e-bikes. Some devices carry different classes and legal requirements, complicating decisions and prompting education efforts by local officials. Cities across the Bay Area are scrambling to inform parents and riders as injuries make headlines and regulators struggle to keep pace. Sales and imports have surged: eCycleElectric estimates 1.7 million e-bikes were imported into the U.S. in 2024, a 72% jump, and Business Wire projects annual consumer demand growth of 8.35% through 2032 to $50.75 billion.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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