With the advent of fake spring – to be followed by real spring in just a few weeks – your kids may be looking forward to road testing their e-micromobility vehicles they received over the winter holidays. These can include an e-bike, an electric skateboard, an electric scooter or even an electric unicycle.

At Alzein Pediatrics, we know these e-bikes and their counterparts are energy efficient ways to travel short distances quickly, making them convenient for tweens and teens to visit friends, go to and from extra-curricular activities or even run an errand for parents. However, both parents and child should understand the responsibility of operating an e-vehicle, both for the rider and the people and other vehicles around them.

First – the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that children under the age of 13 should not operate any product or vehicle that can travel faster than 10 mph.

A class 1 e-bike can be a two or three wheeled vehicle with operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. In Illinois, riders must be over the age of 16 to operate a class 3 e-bike, but anyone can use a class 1 or class 2 bike. Generally, class 2 and 3 e-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks or even shared paths; they must ride on the road and bike lanes. Some municipalities are implementing lower speed zones in high congestion areas. Check your local ordinances to be sure about where e-bikes are and aren’t permitted in your community.

Because e-bikes are built to operate at speeds up to and sometimes beyond 20 mph, they shrink the time riders have to react to road conditions. 20 mph is fast —fast enough to cause significant damage to car – and an e-bike is not a car. E-bikes tend to be heavier than regular bikes, because they need to carry a heavy battery. That increased speed and weight make any e-bike crash more destructive than conventional bikes. As a result, e-bike riders have a smaller margin for error while driving and accidents tend to produce more catastrophic outcomes.

Experts recommend e-bike riders ride slower and defensively, especially in congested and urban areas. Because e-bikes operate at faster speed, riding an e-bike isn’t “just like riding a bike.” The turns and braking require much quicker reaction times.

Last year, experts reported that e-bike related head trauma was nearly 50 times higher now than five years ago, but there are no helmet requirements for e-bikes. The single easiest way to protect an e-bike rider is to insist they wear a helmet, which reduce the risk of head injury by 70%.

Your child should wear brightly colored reflective clothing when on an e-bike or e-vehicle and have a front and rear light on. Shoes should be securely fastened onto their feet, with covered toes.

Review the Rules of The Road with your child. E-bikes and e-vehicles must stop at stop signs and red lights, drivers must signal with their hands when turning at an intersection, and they must yield to pedestrians. Teach your child how to use their mirrors to see behind them without turning their head. Have them practice mounting and dismounting the heavier e-bike, and get accustomed to braking earlier than on a traditional bike.

Not only does an e-micromobility vehicle give your tween or teen some independence, it also helps reduce emissions while freeing you from driving them everywhere!

When you have questions about your child’s development and health, just send your Alzein Pediatrics provider a message in your portal. We will be happy to help!