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Scott Mace

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Dec 1, 2025, 12:44:45 PM (yesterday) Dec 1

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To prevent more e-bike deaths, we must rethink federal regulation

By John Maa
San Francisco Chronicle, Dec 1, 2025

Jeremiah Amaku, right, test rides an electric bike at the Coliseum BART station parking lot in Oakland during a community test and ride event on Nov. 8.

Stephen Lam/S.F. Chronicle

The popularity of electric bikes rose dramatically during the past decade, particularly among teenagers and younger adults. Unfortunately, this surge has brought tragedy as well. Surgeons around the world have witnessed a serious pattern of e-bike injuries and deaths from the higher speeds that reduce the reaction time needed to avoid crashes.

In New York City, bicycle deaths reached a 24-year high of 30 in 2023; 23 of those who died were riding e-bikes.

Compared to pedal bicycles, e-bike accidents are more likely to injure and kill pedestrians. Head trauma from e-bike accidents has increased 49-fold nationally from 2017 to 2022, and e-bike incidents in California between 2018 and 2023 increased more than 18-fold.

In Marin County, a study in 2024 revealed that nearly 1 in 8 e-bike trauma patients brought to the emergency room by ambulance died from their injuries. Overall, the death rate for e-bike accidents was 37 times higher than that for crashes with pedal bicycles.

In response to this growing crisis, the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons issued safety statements on e-bike helmet use and injury prevention this year.

Media reports of youths killed in e-bike crashes are becoming all too frequent, leading to heartbroken parents, physicians and elected officials calling for action. San Mateo Supervisor Jackie Speier is introducing legislation to strengthen rider and pedestrian safety.

Many of the problems stem from the laws: E-bikes are regulated differently (as bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles or motorized vehicles) around the world, and in the U.S., laws conflict on age limits for use, maximum speed, helmet requirements and motor wattage. While the conflicting regulations often feel like a labyrinth of contradictions, there are several steps we can take to reduce injuries.

Recent bills in Congress focus on battery safety and incentive programs to increase e-bike adoption. The focus on battery safety is well-founded: the heavier lithium-ion battery on an e-bike can cause the loss of control, particularly during sudden downhill acceleration. In the U.S., motors are limited to 750 watts, while several nations have limits from 200 to 500 watts.

Lithium-ion batteries are also a fire hazard and caused 267 fires in New York City in 2023, injuring 150 and killing 18. In 2022, San Francisco set a record with 58 fires related to rechargeable batteries.

Few regulations focus on two other key safety factors: age and speed. In the Netherlands, e-bike riders must be 15 years old, and e-bikes are limited to 15 mph. Similar age restrictions are in place across Europe. In the U.S., the picture is less clear.

The manufacturing and first sale of an e-bike is regulated by the federal government, but the operation of e-bikes is controlled by states, where there is a need for action. About 25 states set a minimum age for faster Class 3 e-bike use at 16. Around 10 states have stronger laws (minimum age of 16 across all classes, or defining e-bikes as motorized vehicles, thus requiring licensure, registration and insurance), while 12 have weaker laws (allowing Class 3 use without age restrictions and permitting motors over 750 watts), with the remainder in flux.

In Hawaii, registered e-bike owners must be 18, with a minimum age of 15 to operate one. In 2024, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York considered requiring e-bike registration, while Florida and New York considered licensure as required in Alaska.

Municipalities have jurisdiction over the operation of e-bikes on their roads and can strengthen enforcement and impound unlawful vehicles. Some localities have formed special committees and task forces can study safety concerns, and coordinate educational programs with schools to address the lack of training requirements for purchasers.

In 2023, Incline Village, Nev., and the Port of San Diego banned e-bikes where pedestrians are present. The San Diego County cities of Encinitas and Carlsbad declared e-bike states of emergency after deadly crashes. Lawmakers in Marin and San Diego counties passed minimum age requirements for e-bike use. New York City recently followed the Netherlands in reducing all e-bike speed limits to 15 mph.

Ultimately, regulating e-bikes as motorized vehicles and standardizing U.S. laws might be the strongest next steps. The California Highway Patrol limits mopeds to 30 mph, just 2 mph faster than Class 3 e-bikes. Using the term “e-moped” might provide greater clarity about the risks of these vehicles.

One thing is clear: Increasing e-bike safety and preventing unnecessary deaths will take efforts at the national, state and local levels. We must act now to save lives and prevent future tragedies.