E-Bikes for the holidays: Safety first for young riders

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — If you’re on the hunt for the perfect holiday gift for a pre-teen or teen this year, an e-bike might just be at the top of their list.

Electric bikes have become one of the more popular gifts this holiday season. However, before you place it under the tree, there are a few important things to consider to ensure your child’s safety on the road.

Getting Ready for the Ride: Safety Tips for Parents

Before your child takes their e-bike for its first spin, it’s essential to make sure they’re properly prepared. Lieutenant Greg Willett from the Wilmington Police Department offers a few key pieces of advice.

Although e-bikes may not reach the speeds of a car, it’s important to remember that the rules of the road still apply. “Whether it is a traditional pedal bicycle or an e-bike, it is not going to go as fast as a car, so you can’t do 45 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone,” Lieutenant Willett explains. “But you still need to know how to travel that road, what you’re supposed to do, and how you’re supposed to operate.”

The Importance of Proper Safety Gear

One of the most important things to keep in mind when riding an e-bike is safety gear. “They don’t offer a lot of protection if somebody hits you or you hit something, so you want as much head protection as you can get,” says Lieutenant Willett, stressing the importance of wearing a helmet that offers full coverage. It’s a simple step that could make a big difference if an accident occurs.

Is Your Child Ready to Ride?

Stephen Rice, who sells e-bikes at Carolina E-Bikes in Wilmington, believes that parents need to make sure their child is ready for an e-bike before sending them out on the road. “Once they’ve proven that they can handle the bike well and they’re wearing their helmet like they ought to, you’ve discussed the rules of the road with them—so they know to make eye contact with other drivers and watch out for people backing out of their driveways,” he says.

But readiness doesn’t always come right away. “And if they’re getting good on the bike, maybe turn it up a little bit if they’re ready for it. And that could be two weeks or two months—there’s no rush. You know, 20 miles per hour is still pretty fast.”

E-Bikes: A Trend That’s Here to Stay…

Even after the holiday season Rice shares the growing popularity: “We’ve got several years of growth before it even begins to taper off,” he says. “People are buying e-bikes now instead of traditional bikes. Even regular bike stores are shifting their sales—what used to be 80 percent regular bikes and 20 percent e-bikes is probably flip-flopping now, with 80 percent being e-bikes.”