While e-bikes are fun to ride, my unsolicited opinion today is that kids under driving age should not ride them, especially on public land.
Yes, I get it. You love riding yours and would be more than happy when your loved little one accompanies you.
However, these are my reasons why I would urge you to reconsider:
Safety Concerns
Speed and Control
While looking for an electric ride to acquire, most of us wish to get one that won’t require us to upgrade so soon. As such, as parents, it’s possible to want to buy a relatively sophisticated e-bike for your kid.
Well, electric bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h) or more, depending on the model and local regulations. At such high speeds, the risk of accidents increases significantly.
At this point, it’s much debatable about the issue of speed. High speeds are high speeds, yes, but what really are high speeds? Not all of us have the same capacity regardless of being adults or kids, but this issue of speed thrill has to be checked keenly for the safety of your kid.
Children, due to their lack of experience and judgment, may struggle to control the bike, especially in sudden or complex situations. Unlike traditional bikes, e-bikes require more skill and caution to handle at higher speeds.
Read more about Molly’s story and get to know how an ebike ride’s crash cost her life.
Traffic and Road Awareness
Kids often lack the necessary experience and awareness to navigate traffic safely. They may not fully understand road signs, signals, and rules, increasing the risk of accidents.
Riding an e-bike in traffic can be overwhelming for a child, and a moment of distraction or confusion can lead to severe consequences.
Protective Gear and Safety Equipment
While protective gear like helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads can mitigate injuries, they don’t eliminate the risk.
E-bikes require more robust protective measures compared to traditional bicycles due to their higher speeds and weight.
Unfortunately, not all children wear protective gear consistently, further increasing the risk of injury.
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Physical and Developmental Considerations
Physical Strength and Coordination
Riding an electrically-assisted bike requires a certain level of physical strength and coordination. Children may not have the physical capabilities to handle an e-bike, especially in situations requiring quick reflexes or sudden maneuvers.
The heavier weight of e-bikes compared to traditional bikes can make them harder to balance and control for young riders.
While at this point, part of safety according to me should be that a kid shouldn’t ride an electric bike that’s heavier than them.
There should be a situation where the kid should lift it off themselves should it fall over on them. The problem is that no e-bik worth its salt is light enough to fit small kids, especially now that they have heavy electronic components such as the motor and battery.
Cognitive Development
The cognitive skills required to operate an e-bike safely are often beyond the developmental stage of many children. Decision-making, risk assessment, and problem-solving are crucial skills for safe riding, and these abilities continue to develop throughout adolescence.
Allowing kids to ride e-bikes before they are ready can put them in situations they are not equipped to handle.
Legal and Regulatory Issues
Age Restrictions
Many regions have specific age restrictions for riding e-bikes. These laws are in place to protect children and ensure that riders have the maturity and skill needed to operate these vehicles safely. Ignoring these regulations can lead to legal repercussions and fines for parents.
For reference, one has to be over 16 in California and many other states to ride electric bikes going past 28 Miles per Hour (Class 3 E-bikes) on public roads. Failing to consider this fact is illegal.
Insurance and Liability
In the event of an accident, the liability can be complex and challenging to navigate. Insurance policies may not cover accidents involving minors riding e-bikes illegally. This can result in financial burdens for families and legal complications if the child is involved in an accident causing injury or property damage.
Social Factors
Overreliance on Technology
Encouraging the use of e-bikes at a young age can contribute to a culture of overreliance on technology for transportation. This may discourage children from engaging in traditional physical activities, leading to potential health issues such as decreased cardiovascular fitness.
Peer Pressure and Risk-Taking Behavior
Children and adolescents are often influenced by peer pressure, which can lead to risky behavior. Riding motor-assisted bikes may encourage a sense of competition or the desire to perform stunts, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injuries.
Sparse Education About Electric Bikes
There is a lack of education about how to properly maintain electrically assisted bicycles and use them safely in the United States.
While a 14-year-old could easily perform a brake maintenance check on almost any bike, many people in America lack the knowledge of how to do so and why it’s important.
Electric bikes don’t have “Check Engine” lights, so the average kid may not realize how critical regular maintenance is for bikes.
Failure to adjust electric bike brakes would have them stop working, and you will be lucky to hit more than 200 miles in such a situation. Adjusting and bleeding brakes could be a huge ordeal for most kids.
Other Additional Thoughts For Consideration
We Need A Different Class Of Electric Bikes
As of the moment, Class 1 is the lowest class of e-bikes where they can be pedalled up to 20 Miles per Hour.
By all measures of standards, these are fast speeds for most small kids and it would be best if we had a “Class 0” class of motor-assisted bicycles. I propose that those bikes’ power would cut out at 10 Miles per Hour.
Since such e-bikes would be slower, it would mean that they use smaller components such as motors and batteries, thereby making them more portable.