As warmer weather brings more children onto e-bikes in Connecticut, doctors, public health officials, and police departments are warning parents not to assume every bike is safe for every child.
Experts say they are seeing more serious injuries tied to e-bikes in recent years, while a new state law now in effect may affect whether a child can legally ride one and whether a driver’s license is required.
Plus, in Orange, the fire marshal is investigating the cause of an e-bike fire over the weekend.
“It’s important to remember that just because it’s legal, it doesn’t mean it’s safe,” Anna Stern of Watch for Me CT and Connecticut Children’s said.
Stern said e-bikes are heavier than regular bicycles, which can make them harder for younger riders to control.
“And because of that, it can be more challenging for younger kids to bring them to a stop safely and just generally handle the extra speed,” Stern said.
Doctors say the rise in e-bike use is leading to injuries they do not typically see with regular bikes.
“We’re seeing a lot more head injuries, and we think that’s from people not wearing helmets, but also people just moving faster,” Dr. Alfred Croteau, a trauma and acute care surgeon at Hartford Hospital, said.
Croteau said broken arms and legs are also becoming more common.
“A lot of people buy the exciting e-bike, but they forget about pads, training wheels, or, particularly, helmets, which we’re really focused on,” Croteau said.
Public health officials said families should also understand how Connecticut’s new e-bike law works, including how speed and whether a bike has pedals can affect whether a child can ride legally and whether a driver’s license may be required.
The Glastonbury Police Department put together a flow chart to help families figure out what type of vehicle they had and who could ride it. Click here to view.
In Southington, police said last week they are implementing a zero-tolerance policy on violations involving e-bikes.
Lt. Matthew Hammell of the Southington Police Department said that could mean citations, juvenile summons, or even arrests.
Police said the stepped-up enforcement comes after an officer was injured in an incident involving a teen who allegedly crashed his bike and then tried to flee from an officer who was trying to help.
“We don’t want to see anyone get hurt anymore,” Hammell said.
In Orange on Sunday, firefighters responded to an e-bike fire. The volunteer fire department said the occupant risked injury by removing the bike from the garage while it was on fire. The cause remains under investigation.
Stern said parents should also pay close attention to battery safety when buying and charging e-bike batteries.
“Make sure you’re putting in a properly certified battery,” Stern said.
She said that includes looking for a UL seal, though other certifications also exist.
She also suggested keeping a charge between 80% and 20% for optimal battery health and not leaving a charging battery overnight.
Experts stressed that e-bikes can still be a positive option when used safely.
They are “a fun technology, and I hope that people are using them responsibly and enjoying them within their skills and abilities,” Croteau said.
