Photo by Himiway Bikes on Unsplash
Are E-bikes safe
Welcome to the second in my series about the rapidly increasing number of e-bikes and e-cyclists. My prior newsletter, A look at the e-bike community, delved into the people you may find on an e-bike and why they e-cycle. The newsletter touches on the safety of e-bikes and e-cyclists.
The safety of e-bikes
Let’s start by examining if e-bikes are safe. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) assures that bicycles including e-bikes, regardless of country of manufacture, meet relevant safety requirements before being imported and sold in the United States.
Fire or overheating of e-bike batteries is of concern. The number of incidents has been low but needs to be addressed. The CPSC called on manufacturers, retailers, importers, and distributors of micro-mobility devices to comply with UL 2272 (Standard for Electrical Systems in Personal E-Mobility Devices) and UL 2849 (Standard for Electrical Systems for e-bikes).
The safety of e-Cyclists
I spent considerable time researching accident and injury findings while preparing for this newsletter. I found many studies, none that was definitive on the who, what, where, when, and whys of e-cyclist injury and accidents. I suspect studies in the coming years will identify accidents and injury patterns. I have summarized some of the most cited safety concerns in these studies.
Cycling savvy
E-bikes have opened the world of cycling to people who have never been on a bike or have not cycled since their youth. You may never forget how to ride a bike, but you need to understand how to ride a bike as an adult safely. Know the rules of the road and trail and above all safely sharing the road or trail with others.
Cycling skills
There is no driver-ed for an e-bike. E-bikes are motorized vehicles. E-cyclists need to understand how their e-bike accelerates, the power they possess, how to safely stop at an assured clear distance, and obey the speed limit, more specifically the speed at which they can maintain control of their e-bike.
Cycling over-confidence
We have a level of confidence in our skills and abilities. The e-cyclist, including the pedal-powered cyclist who finds themself on an e-bike, must understand that the power at their hands requires an honest look at their skills when the motor rather than their pedals control their speed.
Cycling self-inventory
All cyclists must take an honest look at their physical limitations, eyesight, coordination skills, and age. Each could limit your responsiveness and awareness of the situation at hand. You may put yourself or others in danger when a quick decision must be made, something more evident when using the e-bike battery.
Cycling risk-taking
Risk increases with speed as with motorized vehicles. An e-cyclist who casually cycles 10-12 miles per hour on a pedal-powered bike may find themselves cycling 14-16 miles per hour on an e-bike. Pedaling is easier. It’s easier to get caught up in the experience. A sudden stop or avoiding an obstacle requires more distance and time as speed increases.
Protect yourself
Too many cyclists do not wear a helmet. In almost all studies of emergency room admissions, helmeted cyclists are far less likely to receive serious head and brain injuries. The danger is also there on a pedal-powered bike. However, gravity and momentum are not on your side as speed increases on an e-bike.
Tour de cycling
E-cyclists must take to heart the behaviors listed above. Just because your e-bike can go twenty miles per hour does not mean that you should cycle at that speed. This is not the Tour de France. No one will give you a yellow jersey for your unruly behavior. Know your limits. Respect others. Respect the rules.
Summarizing safety
The safety of e-bikes is sound. E-bikes, their electrical components, and their batteries perform well and continue to evolve for the better. Government and consumer agencies are working to ensure the safety of e-bikes including features that make the e-bike easier and safer to use for the consumer.
Most e-cyclists are responsible, follow safety rules, and look out for their safety and the safety of others. The risks and behaviors listed above are more about educating people on the responsibilities of riding an e-bike before they get on the e-bike.
Education goes hand in hand with the sale of an e-bike. I hope that bicycle shops offer cycling etiquette and safety seminars for this new breed of cyclists. The same applies to government, law enforcement, and trail organizations which must educate e-cyclists on how to be safe on the roads and trails.
How To: Ride Your E-Bike Safely
Happy trails!
Tom of the Trails
Photo by Heybike on Unsplash