Professional Perspectives on E-Bike Use
Doctor Perspectives
While doctors acknowledge the health benefits of more people using bikes as transportation, they also have concerns about the safety of e-bikes, especially for children who don’t know the rules of the road, have trouble controlling these bikes, or who ride recklessly. Emergency room doctors see head and neck injuries, fractured limbs, contusions, and abrasions. They want to see changes, such as better education for e-bike users; better infrastructure, including physically separated bike lanes; and more widespread helmet use.
Government Official Perspectives
Local governments often set speed limits and safety parameters for e-bikes, but many riders fail to follow them. Without the funding to create their own licensing system, cities have trouble enforcing these laws, as do police officers.
As injuries and accidents involving e-bikes increase, the government is seeing the need for action. So far, the technology of e-bikes has outpaced the legislation required to manage it safely. Some areas, including Carlsbad and Encinitas, California, have implemented a state of emergency after tragic e-bike accidents, including the death of a young teenage boy.
Police Perspectives
Police officers have a challenging job when it comes to e-bikes. Many officers see the need for better regulation and enforcement of e-bike safety laws, but face several struggles to do so. They lack the man-power needed to have an officer stationed in places where e-bike riders commonly abuse the law, such as along boardwalks. Additionally, it can be challenging to pursue an e-bike safely, since the areas they ride are often crowded.
Nonetheless, police are trying to address the issue. For example, the police department in Hermosa Beach, California spent Fourth of July 2022 concentrating on enforcing laws for e-bikes using the Strand. They have also spent time educating young people on e-bike safety by positive reinforcement and safety videos created by the students themselves.
Doctor Perspectives
While doctors acknowledge the health benefits of more people using bikes as transportation, they also have concerns about the safety of e-bikes, especially for children who don’t know the rules of the road, have trouble controlling these bikes, or who ride recklessly. Emergency room doctors see head and neck injuries, fractured limbs, contusions, and abrasions. They want to see changes, such as better education for e-bike users; better infrastructure, including physically separated bike lanes; and more widespread helmet use.
Government Official Perspectives
Local governments often set speed limits and safety parameters for e-bikes, but many riders fail to follow them. Without the funding to create their own licensing system, cities have trouble enforcing these laws, as do police officers.
As injuries and accidents involving e-bikes increase, the government is seeing the need for action. So far, the technology of e-bikes has outpaced the legislation required to manage it safely. Some areas, including Carlsbad and Encinitas, California, have implemented a state of emergency after tragic e-bike accidents, including the death of a young teenage boy.
Police Perspectives
Police officers have a challenging job when it comes to e-bikes. Many officers see the need for better regulation and enforcement of e-bike safety laws, but face several struggles to do so. They lack the man-power needed to have an officer stationed in places where e-bike riders commonly abuse the law, such as along boardwalks. Additionally, it can be challenging to pursue an e-bike safely, since the areas they ride are often crowded.
Nonetheless, police are trying to address the issue. For example, the police department in Hermosa Beach, California spent Fourth of July 2022 concentrating on enforcing laws for e-bikes using the Strand. They have also spent time educating young people on e-bike safety by positive reinforcement and safety videos created by the students themselves.