{"id":84213,"date":"2025-07-24T07:53:27","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T13:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=84213"},"modified":"2025-08-22T10:09:41","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T16:09:41","slug":"ebike-safety-what-parents-should-know-as-injuries-rise-among-riders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/ebike-safety-what-parents-should-know-as-injuries-rise-among-riders\/","title":{"rendered":"E-bike safety: What parents should know as injuries rise among riders"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Young riders may be especially vulnerable to serious injuries from e-bikes, which reach higher speeds and require longer stopping distances. But there are approaches that families can take to help young people enjoy these machines safely. Photo by Joel Blocker, for UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As e-bikes grow in popularity throughout Colorado and the rest of the country, medical experts are pushing for more safety as riders, especially young ones, may be at an increased risk for injury.<\/p>\n

Each year, riders are purchasing nearly a million new e-bikes in the U.S., fueling a billion-dollar industry that continues to grow.<\/p>\n

E-bikes allow riders to get from place to place quickly \u2014 at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour or more. They also assist riders in tackling tough terrain, like steep inclines and or when they’re facing strong headwinds. But the disadvantage of e-bikes is a big one. At higher speeds, riders have less control of the e-bike, and they have shorter reaction times to stop.<\/p>\n

“While e-bikes offer wonderful opportunities for recreation and transportation, their increased speed means riders need more time and distance to stop safely,” said Dr. Alexander Meininger<\/a>, an orthopedic surgeon in Steamboat Springs and a member of the medical staff at UCHealth Yampa Valley Medical Center.<\/a> “We’re seeing that e-bike injuries can be more complex than those from traditional bicycle accidents, sometimes requiring treatment approaches typically reserved for motor vehicle incidents.”<\/p>\n

Concerns for young e-bike users<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Health care professionals have observed that young riders may be particularly vulnerable to these serious injuries. Children and adolescents, who are still developing their coordination and decision-making skills, may find the combination of speed and power particularly challenging to manage safely. Additionally, pedestrians sharing paths with e-bikes may feel uncertain about the speed and proximity of these faster-moving vehicles.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got young riders who are still growing and developing their muscular-skeletal coordination, as well as their maturity, and they\u2019re trying to master these powerful, motorized machines,\u201d said Meininger. \u201cIt\u2019s a vulnerable combination of unbridled power and speed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Myriad studies support Meininger\u2019s concerns. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission<\/a>, injuries related to e-bikes and other mobility-assisted devices, such as e-scooters, have been trending upward annually by as much as 23% for several years.<\/p>\n

Studies by the American Journal of Public Health<\/a>, the American College of Surgeons<\/a> and the Journal of the American Medical Association<\/a> show a dramatic increase in injuries for users attributed to many factors such as a lack of enforcement of appropriate speed limits, age requirements and helmet use.<\/p>\n

E-bikes are designated into three distinct categories to meet different needs and safety requirements:<\/strong><\/p>\n