Expensive electric bikes are dangerous — and unnecessary — for kids

Mar 26, 2023

As one who has commuted often by bicycle since the 1970s and (once) a part-time Sunday guy at a bike shop for more than 25 years, I feel a need to express my opinion on the use of electric bikes. At 75, I still ride my bikes more than I drive.

Recently I noticed four electric bikes at the racks at an elementary school. I have also been passed by kids who look to be under 12 on electric bikes carrying surfboards in one hand, going over 15 mph, not even pretending to pedal. Few of those riders were wearing helmets or observed stop signs.

One was looking at his cellphone as he ran a stop sign.

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No child needs a $2,000 electric bicycle. Some are riding models too large for their size, which alone is unsafe. People used to complain about bike prices in the past, but now, some buy these for their kids, instead of regular bikes.

Electric bikes are quite appropriate for those who with physical impairments, such as some people over 65 or adults who choose one to commute to work instead of using a car.

While in my old shop one day recently, a mother was bemoaning the cost of her 13-year-old's most recent flat tire. Both of her kids had electric bikes, and the cost of fixing a flat can be up to $50 per wheel. Bikes purchased online or from places without repair services are difficult for shops to fix if they’re made with non-standard parts.

In addition to being expensive, electric bikes are heavy. Nice "real" bikes cost less, are cheaper to service and provide a healthy way to travel. Many people using them actually need to be riding bikes under their own power to lose weight and improve their health.

I am a retired paramedic. In the ‘80s while working in the ER, a 12-year-old was flown in after an auto accident. His distraught father was driving him and his friend home from their football game. The father and friend were wearing their seat belts; his son was not, and the boy was brain dead. To this day, I’m sure the father still suffers from guilt.

This incident highlights how overlooking something so simple and obvious can become so tragic. I hope it does not take such a tragedy to make parents realize that kids do not need electric bikes.

Bill Longenecker is a former Shorelines contributor and outdoor enthusiast. He lives in Neptune Beach.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.