E-bikes have become incredibly popular in recent years. About 287,000 e-bikes were sold in the United States in 2019. By 2022, that figure had risen to more than 1.1 million. E-bikes make pedaling up hills a lot easier for riders of all ages, but the speeds they can reach make them more dangerous than traditional bicycles.
When a team of Dutch researchers studied traffic accident data in 2018, they noticed that e-bikes were involved in only 2.9% of the reported bicycle accidents. When the researchers looked only at fatal bicycle accidents, they discovered that e-bikes were involved 27.6% of the time. This is in a country where only people over the age of 16 can own an e-bike and a 15-mph speed limit is rigorously enforced. Statistics like this are the reason why many parents are reluctant to allow their teenagers to ride e-bikes.
E-Bike Classifications in the United States
Most states and almost all bicycle manufacturers follow a 3-tiered classification system for e-bikes. Sorting e-bikes into three classes allows state legislators to draft regulations and e-bike manufacturers to provide consumers with easy-to-understand information. The three e-bike classes are:
- Class 1: These e-bikes can travel no faster than 20 mph and have motors that only provide assistance when riders pedal. Class 1 e-bikes do not have throttles.
- Class 2: An e-bike moves from Class 1 to Class 2 when it has a throttle and cannot exceed 20 mph. A Class 2 e-bike can be operated without pedaling.
- Class 3: These e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 mph, but they are limited to pedal-assist.
When you evaluate whether an e-bike will be suitable for your teen, make sure that its performance settings cannot be changed. Manufacturers know that many consumers look for the fastest and most powerful models available, so they often include features that allow the maximum speeds of their e-bikes to be increased.
State E-Bike Laws
If you purchase an e-bike for your teen, you will have to make sure that it complies with state laws and regulations. Most states consider Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes to be bicycles and Class 3 e-bikes to be motor vehicles, but each state has its own rules. E-bikes are treated just like regular bicycles in Arizona, but they are strictly regulated in Hawaii. Only people over the age of 18 can purchase e-bikes in Hawaii, and only children over the age of 15 can ride them. In California, a rider must be 16 years old to ride a class 3 e-bike.
Are E-Bikes Safe for Teens?
Thousands of American teens ride e-bikes every day and absolutely adore them, but the dangers of traveling at speeds of up to 20 mph on public roads should not be ignored. A study conducted by Austrian researchers in 2022 revealed that more than a third of e-bike injuries are suffered by riders under the age of 18, and Austria has much better bicycle infrastructure than the United States.
Before you allow your teen to ride an e-bike, you should consider where they will be riding and how they will likely behave when they ride. Your teen will be safer on two wheels if they ride on quiet roads that have clearly marked bicycle lanes, and they will be more likely to return home safely if they act responsibly, are risk averse and make good decisions.
Responsible Riding
Riding an e-bike can be tremendous fun, and it can also be dangerous. E-bikes allow teens to feel free and independent, but they must be ridden responsibly. If you live in a quiet area and your teen is mature and responsible, letting them ride an e-bike is probably a good idea. If you live in a busy city and your teen is prone to acting recklessly, you may want to think twice before you give them an e-bike.
