"But the trend of teen and pre-teen e-bike use has proven controversial at times and even dangerous, with more and more riders being injured every year. One of the most devastating examples occurred on Aug. 8 in Burlingame when 4-year-old Ayden Everest Fang was killed when a driver's car was struck by a Class 2 e-bike ridden by an 11-year-old, causing the vehicle to accelerate onto the sidewalk and fatally hit the child."
"E-bikes have existed since the 19th century, but only recently - thanks to better batteries, more affordable prices and a push for sustainable travel - have they exploded in popularity. Although the rise in the use of e-bikes has offered a less expensive (relative to a personal vehicle) form of transportation, exercise and independent fun, it has also brought a shocking rise in e-bike related injuries and deaths and related concern from community members, especially in terms of younger riders."
"Researchers report a major national surge in micromobility-related accidents, with e-bike injuries doubling every year from 2017 to 2022 and e-scooter injuries rising 45% each year. The American College of Surgeons found that "over 20,000 people are injured while riding electric bicycles annually with approximately 3,000 individuals requiring hospitalization, and this is likely underreported.""
E-bike ownership and use have grown rapidly due to improved batteries, lower prices and interest in sustainable travel, with U.S. sales reaching 1.1 million in 2022. Increased e-bike adoption spans ages, including teens and pre-teens, and coincides with a marked rise in injuries and deaths. National data show micromobility accidents climbing, e-bike injuries doubling annually from 2017 to 2022, and thousands of annual hospitalizations. High-profile tragedies, including a fatal sidewalk collision involving an 11-year-old rider, underscore the urgent need for comprehensive safety education and coordinated action by transportation systems and community leaders to prevent further harm.
Read at San Jose Spotlight
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