As you may have noticed, eBikes are getting more popular among children and teens. However, parents may not know that eBikes have two big differences from traditional bikes: they can easily reach a max speed of 20 miles per hour without requiring the same physical effort, and unlike traditional bikes, young eBike riders are not legally required to wear a helmet. This means kids could be setting themselves up for a serious injury if they operate eBikes unsafely.
Please review these PA Micromobility Rules for safety and minimum age requirements and discuss them with your kids so they understand how to safely operate bikes, eBikes, scooters, and other transportation options. Also, please remind them that a key component of road safety is realizing other drivers can’t always see them, so it’s vital that they assume car and truck drivers don’t know they’re there and operate their bikes and scooters accordingly so they won’t end up in a driver’s blind spot.
While it’s great to see more kids making use of bikes and other non-vehicle options, let’s all do our part to ensure that these devices are always being used safely, responsibly, and according to state regulations. Being able to move around freely is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but getting there safe and sound is what really matters.