E-Bike Safety Under Scrutiny After Serious Injuries Rise Nationwide

A Minnesota woman nearly died after being struck by a teen on an electric bike traveling 25 mph, highlighting growing safety concerns as e-bike injuries have surged dramatically. Medical experts and officials are pushing for stricter regulations and better safety practices as these popular vehicles become more common.

A teenager riding an electric bicycle struck Janet Stotko at approximately 25 mph during her evening walk, sending the Minnesota woman crashing to the pavement unconscious and bleeding in her neighborhood.

The 2024 collision almost claimed Stotko’s life as she was rushed to emergency care suffering from serious brain trauma, a fractured face and damaged eardrum. Following two days on life support, three weeks of hospitalization and brain surgery, she made a remarkable recovery that amazed her medical team.

During a follow-up appointment, she recalled her physicians saying, “Wow, we can’t believe you’re here.”

Stotko is now advocating for tougher e-bike regulations to prevent similar incidents from happening to others.

While electric bicycles provide a practical, environmentally friendly and affordable transportation option compared to automobiles, their growing popularity has sparked safety debates. Research from the University of California, San Francisco revealed that e-bike related injuries among riders nearly doubled annually between 2017 and 2022, while a UC San Diego study documented a 300% spike in injuries among riders under 18 from 2019 to 2023.

Federal regulations classify most electric bikes as non-motorized vehicles similar to regular bicycles, meaning operators don’t need licenses or insurance and helmet use isn’t mandatory. However, individual states have implemented varying and often more restrictive requirements.

Medical professionals are demanding new legislation and stronger enforcement of current rules, prompting officials across the country to take measures.

Understanding e-bike safety requirements is essential for riders and those around them.

Most states use a three-category system for electric bicycles: Class 1 models feature motors that activate during pedaling with top speeds of 20 mph; Class 2 versions include throttles reaching 20 mph maximum without pedaling; and Class 3 bikes offer pedal assistance up to 28 mph.

Higher-speed models, sometimes called e-motos, can hit 40 mph without any pedaling required. Many states regulate these like motorcycles, banning them from sidewalks and bike paths, though some areas lack specific rules for these ultra-fast models.

John Maa, a general surgeon at MarinHealth Medical Center in Northern California, explains that higher speeds naturally result in more severe injuries.

“It’s Newton’s principles, right? Force equals mass times acceleration, and also kinetic energy is mass times velocity squared,” Maa said.

Regulations covering speed restrictions, helmet mandates and other e-bike rules are evolving quickly, with legal requirements varying significantly between jurisdictions.

New York City established a 15 mph speed cap for all electric bikes in October, while Florida legislators recently approved legislation limiting e-bike speeds to 10 mph when within 50 feet of pedestrians. Connecticut enacted an October law mandating helmets for all e-bike users, with non-pedal bikes having batteries exceeding 750 watts requiring driver’s licenses.

“We were not only hearing from manufacturers and riders, but we were hearing from concerned citizens trying to share the road with these new electric bikes and e-scooters, and also law enforcement who really needed some clear policies set into place,” said Christine Cohen, the Connecticut state senator behind the legislation.

The marketplace includes many vehicles that straddle the boundary between traditional e-bikes and motorcycle-like machines, with manufacturers not always clearly identifying these differences.

Understanding a bike’s performance capabilities and legal riding areas requires checking maximum speed, motor power output, and whether pedaling is required versus throttle-only operation. Models falling outside the three-class system may face motor vehicle laws, potentially prohibiting use on shared paths where slower e-bikes are permitted.

“The first thing we always tell people is familiarize yourself, read the manual, look at some videos, look at your specific model,” said Charles DiMaggio, an injury public health researcher and professor at New York University’s medical school.

Purchasing from local bicycle retailers rather than online sources can provide valuable assistance, allowing customers to ask questions, test ride equipment and understand local regulations.

Medical facilities and organizations including the American College of Surgeons and American Association of Neurological Surgeons have demanded stricter policies while providing safety guidance.

Helmet use remains their top recommendation. Additional suggestions include defensive riding around vehicles, installing front and rear lighting, wearing reflective clothing in low light conditions, and avoiding riding while impaired by substances. Experts also warn against modifying e-bikes for increased speed.

Maa suggests e-bike operators consider motorcycle helmets that protect the neck area to prevent spinal damage. He also recommends parents ensure children master traditional bicycle riding before transitioning to electric models.

“Make sure they’re comfortable, they understand the rules of the road, they’re able to navigate turns, understand the flow of traffic, the use of bicycle lanes,” Maa said.

Following her accident, Stotko addressed her local city council in Hastings, Minnesota, sharing her experience to advocate for stronger regulations. Officials responded by lowering maximum e-bike speeds to 15 mph on city trails, banning e-bikes from sidewalks and establishing fines.

Local police cited the 14-year-old rider for underage e-bike operation, but no charges were filed related to Stotko’s injuries.

“It’s really about taking accountability and ownership of owning an e-bike and operating one,” she said.