Presentation
Age and Safety Considerations for Electric versus Conventional Pedal Bicycles
SessionS5: Traffic and Construction
DescriptionThe increasing use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) across the US has prompted new safety-related questions. As the number of roadway miles traveled by e-bike users increases, so too does opportunity for collisions. Currently available accident data does not sufficiently distinguish the impact of e-cyclists on roadway safety relative to conventional bicycle users. Here, we examine the involvement of e-bikes and conventional pedal bikes in traffic collisions from 2020-2024, as reported by two municipal police departments in Orange County, California (Irvine and Newport Beach). Across all 376 incidents reported in Irvine, approximately 60% involved conventional bicycles, 40% involved e-bikes, and traveling at unsafe speeds was the predominant collision factor police cited. Notably, the City of Irvine also provided the age of the cyclist involved in each accident; for both cycling modalities, members of the 8-15 year old age range were involved in more accidents than any other age group, with 8-15 year olds accounting for approximately 58% of the e-bike incidents and 31% of the conventional bicycle incidents documented. Our analyses suggest that young riders of both conventional bicycles and e-bikes could benefit from increased adult supervision, community education, and/or an improved working knowledge of roadway rules.
Event Type
Lecture
TimeWednesday, October 15th1:30pm - 1:50pm CDT
LocationGrand Hall I
Safety