On our podcast today, we’re tackling e‑bike safety—a fast-growing concern with sobering numbers. Reported e‑bike injuries surged from 751 in 2017 to 25,000 in 2022. Sixty-seven percent of crashes lead to hospitalization, and about a third of those patients land in the ICU. Helmet use lags behind traditional cyclists, intoxication is a frequent factor, and most fatalities occur in men ages 25 to 44. Part of the danger is physics: many e‑bikes hit or exceed 30 mph, and at up to 70 pounds, they carry far more momentum than a 17–20 pound road bike.
We’ll also look at policy responses on the podcast, including New York City’s proposed Priscilla’s Law, which would require license plates and registration so traffic cameras can enforce speeding and red‑light violations. Regulators are zeroing in on the delivery sector, pushing to hold companies—not just riders—accountable for unsafe practices.
Some references to take a look at.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Micromobility Products-Related Deaths and Injuries: 2017–2022 (2023). https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/CPSC-Report-On-Micromobility-Products-Related-Deaths-and-Injuries-2017-2022
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts, 2022 Data: Bicyclists and Other Cyclists (2024). https://www.nhtsa.gov/traffic-deaths-2022/bicyclists-and-other-cyclists