If you take a look at the bike rack at the front of Oak Park High School, you will most likely see a number of electric scooters and bikes. That makes sense, as they are great for traveling short distances, and are an easy mode of transportation that aren’t cars. However, they may be becoming a safety hazard, with some of these-bikes exceeding speeds of 20 mph. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, from 2017 to 2020, e-bike injuries have increased by 70%.
So what bikes specifically are being ridden? Well, there are three classifications of e-bikes.
Class one is a pedal assist only, meaning that the throttle will only engage when you pedal and will cap at 20 mph. This type requires no type of license registration or insurance. This means children of any age can be out on the street riding these-bikes.
Class two is a throttle assisted bike, and it’s very similar to the previous type in terms of speed and licensing, except for the fact that the motor can be used without pedaling. It also cannot provide assistance in biking when a speed of 20 mph is reached.
Class three is where we begin to see some more resemblance to an actual motorized vehicle, with it being able to reach 28 mph. Unlike class two, however, it will only provide assistance when pedaling, like class one. To ride a class three bike, you must be 16-years or older, you have to wear a helmet and you cannot transport passengers. These laws keep the rider and other pedestrians safe.
For all three, no drivers license or license plates are needed. This can be scary considering the speed limit in the school zone is only 25 mph. And in these areas, teenagers without a license can be on the road with what is essentially a motorized vehicle.
“I have known and seen the consequences of mismanagement related to the use of e-bikes dangerously on the streets of Agoura,” Agoura High School sophomore, Bria Meyer said.. “I just don’t want to see these people get hurt or seriously injured.”
And that is a genuine concern. With teenagers’ ‘devil-may-care attitude’, safety is the least on their mind.
“I myself had a friend who suffered a near death experience related to e-bikes. His accident resulted in him being emergency evacuated to a hospital, being induced into a medical coma and possible permanent brain damage,” an anonymous Oak Park student said. “Had stricter laws been set in place, my friend might’ve avoided the entire situation.”
Even students who haven’t seen an accident know that there’s one bound to happen.
“It’s so dangerous how these kids ride them,” OPHS sophomore Kai Parsavand said. “I see people doing wheelies on the road, and it’s crazy how there hasn’t been an accident yet.”
And now, in Westlake Village, a new ordinance has banned all electric vehicles from sidewalks, parks, trails and fields. For many, this seems to be a step in the right direction, as it further regulates the use of e-bikes.
With this change in Westlake Village, a town right next to Oak Park, it’s more than likely that this step forward in e-vehicle safety will spread to the surrounding areas. If Oak Park families step up to change laws, it may save lives, hopefully ensuring that no E-vehicle accidents ever occur again.
