E-bikes are a top pick for both kids and adults this holiday season, but there are some things to consider before you cross it off a Christmas list.
SAN DIEGO — As holiday shopping ramps up, more people are eyeing electric bikes as potential gifts for both kids and adults. And with e-bikes likely to end up under plenty of Christmas trees this year, safety experts say education should come before the first ride.
On Sunday, Harley-Davidson hosted a hands-on e-bike safety course in partnership with 101 Bikes and the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. The event gave people a chance to test ride different models and learn the basics of safe riding.
For 15-year-old Julian, the training came at the perfect time.
“[I] feel like, as I grow up, all my friends are getting one. You know, [trying] to be a part of that community of e-bikes,” he said while trying out a bike on the course.
Julian is receiving an e-bike as both a birthday and Christmas gift, and his dad, Adrian, wanted to make sure he learned the rules of the road before taking off.
“It was perfect that Harley is offering this course. So I was like, ‘let’s take you out here so you can learn something about safety and get to test right?’ And get to test ride some of these,” Adrian said.
Bob Haro, the founder of freestyle BMX and now a partner in San Diego e-bike company 101 Bikes, said the rise in young riders makes instruction more important than ever.
“As many of us see, there [are] lots of kids in our neighborhoods, in city streets, riding e-bikes. Most probably are not obeying all of the rules of the road because they don’t know the rules of the road,” he said.
The course walked riders through safety, basic bike functions and proper e-bike etiquette. Kevin Baross, Education Manager for the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition, led the training.
“They say it’s just like riding a bike, but there’s a little bit more to it than that sometimes,” Baross said.
For those planning to buy an e-bike this season, Baross offered a few key tips:
1. Test ride before you buy.
If you’re not comfortable riding on it, your kid is probably not going to be comfortable riding on it either.
2. Make sure you’re buying a legal e-bike, not an e-motorcycle or an illegal model.
Consider what e-bike you are purchasing. Does it have pedals? Does it fit within the three classifications of e-bikes? If it goes faster than 20 miles per hour, it’s not a class 1 or class 2 e-bike. If it goes faster than 28, it’s not a class 3 e-bike, according to Baross.
3. Know your local rules.
Some cities, including Chula Vista, San Marcos, and Coronado, do not allow children under 12 to ride e-bikes.
For families like Julian’s, adding a safety course to the gift may make all the difference.
“So bringing him out here, getting him situated with the course, and then the future will be a Harley. So start here,” Adrian said.
Find upcoming e-bike safety classes and how to schedule one at a school or workplace here.
