Imagine you were a parent who recently let your teen get a new type of electric bike. It seemed like it was harmless and a fun activity, but your heart drops when you come to find out your child has crashed and heavily injured themselves. The teens of our society are in critical danger from a new type of electric dirt bike. These so-called “e-bikes” can go faster than 40-50mph on some models, and minors are actively using them. They were originally made for off road use, but people use them on streets, and they still aren’t safe off road either. They may be fun and also can be used as a sport, but they just aren’t safe enough, they go too fast, and aren’t allowed on streets either.
These new dirt bikes are very unsafe for the rider and the property of other people. They endanger lives and cause thousands of injuries every year. According to recent data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “Between 2017 and 2022, there were at least 233 deaths associated with e-bikes and e-scooters, with a significant increase in injuries reported in 2022 alone; additionally, over 360,000 emergency department visits were related to these devices during the same period, highlighting a substantial rise in e-mobility related injuries” (“E-Scooter and E-Bike Injuries Soar: 2022 Injuries Increased Nearly 21%”). This can show how these types of bikes and their problems that follow have been around since ~2017 and still are happening today. The mortality and injury rates have been increasing every year, and more people are getting these disastrous vehicles. They just aren’t safe because of the way people use them, either uneducated on the rules of the road or being careless when using them.
Another reason why these bikes aren’t safe is the pure speed. Most models go at least 30 mph, some 40-50mph, and go up to even 60. Riding at these speeds is very dangerous and can cause accidents: “A suitable helmet, goggles, and pads must be worn at all times when riding an electric dirt bike. Don’t allow children to ride dirt bikes at top speed. Riding at maximum speed makes it easier to lose control and get into an accident” (Cruz). Riding at max speed is unsafe and can easily get kids into accidents. These things are basically motorcycles, being able to break speed limits and go speeds of cars. Motorcycle riders are already at danger with licenses and practice, and untrained kids on these things are a great danger. Many children use them unsafely and can get fatal injuries.
Some may argue that these e-bikes have less components and use electricity instead of gasoline so they are safer, but it is still essentially a motorcycle as they need lots of add-ons to be street-legal like how people use them. Their speed and motors require them to have lots of things they don’t have. “All in all, none of these bikes are street-legal. Even if you did modify them with mirrors, lights, and turn signals, you have to check with your state to see if you can even license and register them, and what license you might need to operate them on the roads” (“Are Electric Dirt Bikes Street-Legal?”). This can help explain how these bikes aren’t legal. Part of the problem is that they don’t meet the requirements needed for vehicles to be street legal, but adding them makes them more like what they basically already are: motorcycles. They also need licenses, like motorcycles. These bikes are essentially just motorcycles, simplified, put into teens’ hands. Putting an already dangerous bike in front of someone who might not even have a driver’s permit is crazy unsafe.
With the growing popularity of e-dirtbikes, it is very important to make sure that parents, teens, and adults acknowledge the dangers of them. One way to do this is to research them, and write an article about them,or spread word of their danger on social media or to friends. If we can make people more aware of the dangers, we can help stop people from getting hurt and help spread awareness to others. This would help protect our youth today and the future generations to come. If we don’t work together to at least spread awareness and promote laws for stricter purchasing, more people could be endangering themselves and others for years to come.
