https://www.thedrive.com/news/man-rides-electric-scooter-65-mph-down-a-texas-interstate-and-somehow-doesnt-die
Posted on 04/04/2025 10:14:15 AM PDT by 4Runner
US Experience The US has seen two eras in e-bike injury—an early era with the majority of deaths in older patients who have the financial resources to purchase earlier generation and more expensive e-bikes but were less skilled riding a bicycle. During the pandemic, sales of all bikes increased, and the closure of gyms and social distancing led some to purchase e-bikes as a safe option for outdoor exercise. In the second era, e-bike prices fell significantly and became more affordable, leading to a dramatic increase in pediatric use and injury.
[snip]
For decades, MarinHealth Medical Center has been the primary hospital treating bicyclists injured across the county. In 2023, Marin surgeons began reporting the new hazards with e-bikes.
An analysis of the MarinHealth Medical Center trauma registry revealed that e-bike accident victims compared to regular bicyclists were nearly a decade older in age, more likely to require hospital admission, and had a higher risk of dying (more than 10% of e-bike riders who crash and then present to the trauma center expired). The e-bike injury pattern includes pelvic fractures, which are more commonly seen in motorcycle riders than bicyclists.
(Excerpt) Read more at facs.org ...
My experience as a cyclist in Tampa Florida is completely at odds with so much of the claims publicly made by commentators regarding these highly dangerous vehicles.
Because of having so many near-collisions, as a cyclist, with e Bikes on the Upper Tampa Bay Trail and, as a pedestrian, on Hillsborough County's sidewalks, I now drive twenty miles one way to a bicycle trail I can access that is not infected with e-bike users, in order to ride 45 miles without colliding with a speeding motorized vehicle which, if it happened, would more than likely kill me.
In our neighborhood in Tampa, you will never see an e-Bike rider on the street riding in vehicular traffic. Incredibly, the only two locations they can be found are either on the trail, or on the sidewalk.
You take your life in your hands walking on the sidewalk in Tampa if God forbid, one of these six-inch-wide-tire hundred-pound machines is bearing down on you at 30 mph with a helmeted driver. They will not stop for you.
What fiendish insane minds have placed out-of-condition and inexperienced and unlicensed individuals on what really are motorcycles disguised as bicycles, to pose very real safety risks to the rest of the user population on trails and sidewalks?
And how in hell are e-Bike riders getting any kind of exercise?
The park where I walk, e-bike riders, mostly kids, whizz by at full speed.
They are dangerous to themselves and pedestrians................
My question exactly. If the point is to exercise then what good is a motorized vehicle? I can see if it’s for recreation or transportation. That said, I have not encountered one but I imagine they don’t make a lot of noise to give you fair warning.
It’s not the bike, it’s the rider. I’ve seen people go 40km/hr with no care to ride safely. I’ve had them, when I determined that I was safe to back up, to suddenly ride behind me and they were not in my view when I thought I could back up safely.
By picking themselves up off the ground, brushing themselves off and getting back on the bike.
I'm 63 years old. I get my daily exercise just putting my socks and shoes on.
E bikes should be banned from biking/walking trails and all sidewalks.
Treat them like what they are: motorcycles.
E bikes drive themselves!
Who knew!
I’m not sure I understand the concept of e-bikes as “exercise”.
Okay, I looked it up. Apparently you can vary the motor assist on an e-bike in order to get some exercise. My next question is, how fast will they go if you’re trying to outrun a mugger?
They aren’t. They are expensive toys. We have two and they can get up to 40 mph. The kids have no idea how dangerous they are at that speed...................
“one of these six-inch-wide-tire hundred-pound machines is bearing down on you at 30 mph with a helmeted driver.”
What kind is that? I have never seen one.
“And how in hell are e-Bike riders getting any kind of exercise?”
I am 78 and get plenty of exercise on my e-bike. I vary the torque assist depending on wind conditions.
They don’t make any noise. Ours has buzzer horns that you can use to warn others of your presence..............
Yes, they are closer to motorcycles than bicycles.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/man-rides-electric-scooter-65-mph-down-a-texas-interstate-and-somehow-doesnt-die
An ebike is not for excersize. It is a cheap way to get around. They didn’t want to be regulated at motorcycles so they called it a “bike”. It is not a bike. You don’t bicycle anywhere.
It is just a very affordable way to get around. Unfortunately, most people don’t understand that ebikes are just light duty motorcycles, so they don’t wear helmets or any protection for their body.
Crash, bang, oops, screwed.
There’s that video of this guy getting in an elevator carrying the battery from his electric bike when as the door closes the battery explodes - horrific, all caught on video.
Part of the problem is that young people whiz along on sidewalks on these bikes at 20-30 mph. This is a hazard if you are pulling out of a parking lot and focusing on vehicular traffic in the road. While you are looking left, these bikes can come whizzing past from the right, and vice versa. I have almost hit them a couple of times, and other people have told me the same story.
In Nashville the streets are full of e-bikes. Most of them are operated by tourists unfamiliar with their operations.
Ours can do 40mph...............
Yes that happens to me a lot...............
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