If you have considered taking up cycling for your commute but are concerned about the distances you would need to travel or if you have the endurance needed, an e-bike may be just the thing to try.
E-bikes have many of the benefits of a traditional bike such as improving personal health and reducing vehicle emissions, but as motorized vehicles, the e-bikes offer expedience you might not get with a traditional bicycle.
You would be in good company if you choose an e-bike. Their sales nearly quadrupled between 2019 and 2022, according to BusinessInsider.com. The U.S. Department of Energy reports 1.1 million e-bikes sold in 2022.
With their small motors, e-bikes make cycling more accessible, especially for older adults or those with physical limitations. The pedal assist option can make longer distances or hilly terrain less of an obstacle for novice riders.
“A little electrical assistance goes a long way toward helping people overcome the obstacles keeping them from biking, whether that’s steep hills, a lengthy commute, physical limitations, or the mortifying thought of showing up somewhere with pit stains,” wrote Tim Levin in Business Insider.
Because e-bikes can go faster and, potentially, farther than traditional bicycles, the potential for serious injury is higher, so novice riders should be mindful.
“We have seen e-bike crashes and related injuries increase nearly 100% annually in recent years — that’s why e-bike safety is so important,” said Dr. Sigrid Burruss on ucihealth.org.
According to the American College of Surgeons, “More than 20,000 people are injured on e-bikes annually, 15% of them seriously enough to be hospitalized.”
Bicycle safety is important but extra precautions should be taken for those riding an e-bike. Wearing a helmet, obeying traffic laws and being visible are all common safety precautions.
Arizona does not have any helmet laws for e-bikes, and the City of Tucson does require riders under 18 years of age to wear one.
One of the appeals of e-bikes is their higher rates of speed, but it is also what makes them more dangerous. Be careful when traveling at higher speeds and consider slowing down, especially near busy traffic or in locations you have not traversed before.
“Traveling at higher speeds increases the risk of arm and leg compound fractures, along with head and neck injuries,” wrote Jessica Neuman on ucihealth.org. “Internal injuries in the chest and stomach regions are also possible.”
If you’re new to e-bikes or just concerned about riding on large busy roadways, you can stick to the City of Tucson’s network of bicycle boulevards or the Chuck Huckelberry Loop or many other options that don’t run along major roadways. Find maps and information about all the region’s bicycle paths here.
Some e-bikes are easy to alter but in addition to damaging a pricey possession, making them faster than they were intended can make them more dangerous. Operating at higher speeds can also make them considered a motorized vehicle and different laws may apply. In Arizona, bikes exceeding 25 mph require a class M license. Any motored cycle equipped with an electric motor over 750 watts is no longer considered an e-bike.
Like any bike or motorcycle, make sure you obey traffic laws including riding with the flow of traffic, using hand signals and observing all signs and traffic lights.
Do basic maintenance, including checking brakes and tires. With an e-bike, you should also store the battery safely.