Can you take a child on an electric bike?

09 Apr.,2024

 

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Biking is a great way to get to and from school and other activities. It is good exercise, and it's fun when children are ready. Now, electric bikes (e-bikes) of all sizes and speeds are growing more popular.

We see more kids riding e-bikes on sidewalks, paths and in the street. But how do you know if your child is ready to ride an e-bike?

Read on to learn more about how old your child needs to be to ride an e-bike and tips to keep in mind when choosing one.

What is an e bike?

E-bikes look like regular bikes. However, they include an electric motor and a rechargeable battery. Electric bikes are also faster, heavier and have two or three wheels and pedals.

Types of e bikes

  • Class 1: the bike motor only works when the rider is pedaling and it can reach speeds up to 20 mph

  • Class 2: includes a throttle that allows the rider to use the bike motor without pedaling or with pedaling. It can reach speeds up to 20 mph

  • Class 3: may or may not have a throttle but can reach speeds up to 28 mph or more

Removing or unlocking the speed limiter on an e-bike is not recommended. It can be dangerous and cause damage to the bike.

Should your child ride an e-bike?

Just as they learn to walk and bike safely, they need to know how to safely operate an e -bike before they pedal off on their own. E-bikes require different skills and extra training. And many states and even some communities have regulations on who can or cannot ride e-bikes.

The first step is to find out whether there are laws or rules about how old a person must be to operate e-bikes. Check the vehicle code in your state and regulations in your community. Confirm whether the rules apply to all classes of e-bikes. Some areas also have stricter laws for the faster (class 3) e-bikes.

Keep in mind: The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children age 9 through 12 years should not operate any product that travels faster than 10 mph.

What about my teenager?

E-bikes may be motorized, but they are not considered motor vehicles at this time.

Even so, if your teen is 16 years of age or older and has a learning permit or driver's license, they can still benefit from instruction to help them ride an e-bike safely. Check with your city and school district to see if there are training courses. Some school districts require training for the e-biker to have a school parking permit.

Other e-bike safety risks

If your child is old enough to safely operate an e-bike, keep in mind:.

There is a higher risk of severe injury and death for riders of e-bikes than for regular bike users.

E-bikes were reported as the reason for about 53,000 emergency department visits and caused 104 deaths from 2017-2022. In 2022 alone, e bikes were linked to 24,400 emergency department visits.

Motor vehicle crashes and bike control issues were the top hazards associated with e-bike fatalities.

E-bike batteries can cause fires. The e-bike battery powers the motor but it must be charged often. Parents should keep in mind that a rechargeable e-bike battery presents a higher risk of fire and explosion. Always be present when charging the e-bike battery. Never charge any battery while you are sleeping, and only use the charger that is recommended. (Find more battery safety tips here.)

Electric bikes need extra care. Routine maintenance of an e-bike is not the same as for a regular bike. Make sure you and your child know what is required to keep the e-bike operating properly. This includes reading the user manual, learning about warnings and instructions and performing recommended safety checks.

Follow the rules of the road on an e bike

Remember, all bikers of all ages whether using an e-bike or not should follow the basic rules of the road:

  • Ride on the right, in the same direction as traffic using bike lanes when available.

  • Stop and look both ways before entering the street.

  • Stop at all intersections, whether marked or unmarked.

  • Respect traffic lights and stop signs.

  • Wear a bicycle helmet that fits properly and is approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. (Find details about which helmet to choose for which activity here.)

  • Pay attention to your surroundings. Do not talk on the cell phone, text or wear ear buds or headphones while riding.

  • Discourage kids from taking passengers on the back of the e-bike.

  • Do not operate the e bike if you are drinking or using substances or taking medications that can interfere with your ability to be a safe biker.

  • Alert others such as pedestrians that you are approaching. They may not hear you.

  • Follow safety rules when towing bicycle trailers.

Remember

Children must first understand how to be safe pedestrians and then learn to be safe bicycle riders. Proper safety education and training are important to ride a regular bike. But riding a regular bike does not ensure that they are safe to operate an e-bike. E-bike riding requires even more training and skills. The rider should be mature enough to make safe choices.

More information

Due to COVID-19 lockdowns and anxieties about the safety of public transportation, there has been a steady rise in sales of electric bikes (e-bikes) in the U.S. over the past three years.

CHOC has also seen a steady rise in pediatric injuries related to e-bikes. Unfortunately, electric bikes bring an increased risk of injury in children, specifically adolescents.   

Makenzie Ferguson, injury prevention educator at CHOC, notes that the Julia and George Argyros Emergency Department at CHOC Hospital has treated over 85 patients for injuries caused by e-bikes over the last three years — with 34 of those treated in the last six months.

Here, Makenzie offers safety advice to parents regarding e-bikes riding for kids and adolescents.  

Common injuries caused by electric bikes (e-bikes) at CHOC

Of the pediatric e-bike injuries treated by CHOC, the following were the most common:

  1. Concussions.
  2. Extremity (a limb of the body like an arm or leg) fractures.
  3. Skull fractures.
  4. Facial fractures.

As seen at CHOC, these injuries were most commonly caused by falling off the e-bike, colliding with a static object while riding, being struck by a car while riding or being struck by someone on an e-bike while walking.

Learn more about the frequency, locations and nature of electric bike-related injuries in Orange County from CHOC.

Can kids and adolescents safely ride e-bikes?

Yes. Kids and teens can safely ride e-bikes with precautions in place. When riding an e-bike, Makenzie encourages parents to ensure that their kids:

Wear a helmet with the chin strap fastened.

Only about half of the children CHOC treated for e-bike injuries were wearing a helmet. No matter the age, or minimum requirements of the local laws, all children and adolescents should wear a helmet when using any e-bike, manual bike, scooter, etc.

Parents should teach their kids the importance of wearing a helmet at an early age and model this behavior by wearing one themselves.

CHOC experts speak about the importance of helmets for kids.

Don’t ride on an e-bike with another rider.

There should be no more than one rider on an e-bike at a time to reduce the risk of falling off the e-bike.

Have knowledge of road safety.

Parents should not allow their children to use e-bikes unless they have a foundational knowledge of road safety. Parents should be aware of the different classes of e-bikes, as well as local laws and regulations.

Stay visible while riding.

Parents should make sure that their family is visible to cars while riding e-bikes. Some drivers may take a turn in front of you or come dangerously close to sideswiping you as you ride in the bike lane.

Choose a bike with lights to remain visible after dark.

Additionally, there are independent rearview radars available for purchase (separate from e-bike) that can be installed on e-bike. These radars can sense and alert riders of vehicles approaching from behind.

How old does a child have to be to ride an e-bike?

E-bikes are broken down into the following classes based on their speed and a presence of a throttle:

  • Class one: An electric bicycle that is equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling. It ceases to provide that assistance once the bicycle reaches 20 mph.
  • Class two: An electric bicycle with a throttle-actuated motor, that ceases to provide pedal assistance when the bicycle reaches 20 mph. 
  • Class three: An electric bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance while the rider is pedaling, and ceases to provide that assistance when the bicycle reaches 28 mph.

There are no current age restrictions for riders of electric bikes in classes one and two. Class three e-bikes require the rider to be a minimum age of 16 years old.

Most of the patients treated at CHOC for e-bike injuries were between the ages of 14 and 16 years. However, CHOC has also treated children as young as 2 years for injuries caused by riding on an e-bike with an adult or being struck by an e-bike while walking.

It’s important to remember that just because there are no current age restrictions for class one and class two e-bikes, it doesn’t mean that e-bikes are appropriate for children of all ages.

Learn more safety tips for manual bikes.

What are the risks associated with e-bikes for kids and adolescents?

The biggest risk associated with e-bikes is speed.

Injuries can occur with any wheeled device like manual bicycles, skateboards or scooters, but because e-bikes can travel up to around 30 mph, the speed can cause more severe injuries.  Another risk associated with e-bikes is a lack of operator skill and knowledge. Unfortunately, there is no formalized road safety course required to use an e-bike. Riders need to have basic knowledge of road rules and situational awareness to ride safety and decrease the risk of injuries on the road.

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Get more safety and injury prevention tips from CHOC experts

More children are affected by injuries than all other childhood illnesses and diseases combined. Most of these injuries are predictable and preventable. Here’s how to keep your child safe.

Visit the Safety Guide

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