Collaborative post
Bikes are a classic pastime for kids and adults alike worldwide. They offer tons of fun and fulfil their hunger for speed and adventure. However, one concern that always comes up is if they’re safe for kids to ride. Yes, we had our fair share of fender benders and wipeouts, but you’ve always got to take the safety concerns along with the benefits of ebikes to make a good decision on whether or not to get one.
Are ebikes safe?
When you think about it, allowing your child to ride an e-bike is about as safe as allowing them to ride a traditional bicycle — the only difference is the potential speed they could hit. While learning to ride, the chances of them falling off and hurting themselves are about the same as they would be on a traditional bike.
Some experts suggest that kids under eight shouldn’t ride electric bikes because of the safety risks. Those who allow their kids to ride should teach them to ride properly and purchase a bike with the appropriate protective gear and safety features like training wheels until they’re comfortable riding without them.
What are the benefits of ebikes for kids?
When considering whether or not an ebike would be the right fit for your child, you’ve got to take the benefits into account.
1. Freedom to explore
Being on an electric bike allows your kids to explore their neighbourhood, venture into the wilderness, or race their friends. You can also get e-bikes that convert their physical force from pedalling into power, allowing your kids to maintain some of the traditional cycling experience.
2. Fast, but safe
Nowadays, e-bikes can reach some pretty impressive speeds, some exceeding 50kmph. However, kids’ e-bikes are specifically limited to being fast enough to be fun but slow enough to be safe for your kids. You’ll find that your kids’ bikes generally have a max speed of between 6 and 20kmph, depending on how old they are and the bike you purchase.
3. Encourages outdoor fun
Riding a bike is an outdoor activity, period. Getting your child an e-bike is a great way to get them outside more often and reduce their time indoors playing video games.
4. Easy to ride
In our opinion, electric bikes are easier to ride than traditional bikes. With traditional bikes, kids need to learn to pedal while they develop the momentum to help them remain balanced. With e-bikes, they might still need to pedal, but the motor propels them forward, providing them with more momentum to keep their balance. In addition to that, the brakes and other features mimic a traditional bike, making them easier to figure out.
The rules for riding e-bikes
As you can imagine, the rules for riding an e-bike would be the same as riding a normal bike for kids. Regarding safety equipment, ensure that your child is wearing a quality helmet, elbow and knee pads, and gloves because we all know that your hands are the first part of your body that gets hurt because they’re used when trying to break their fall. If your child is still new to riding a bike, purchasing them a set of training wheels would be ideal, too.
In addition to safety equipment, you should teach your children how to be road-smart when riding on the roads. This means educating them on traffic, where they can and can’t ride, and what to do when they see people in their way or an oncoming car.=
Furthermore, when finding an electric bike suitable for kids, you should also consider what safety features the bike has on it. For example, some of the newer electric bikes on the market have the following safety features:
- Anti-lock braking systems to assist in sharper braking
- Electronic stability control to help your child keep their balance
- LED lights to provide better visibility in low light conditions and alert others to your position
- Warning devices like a hooter
- Speed limiters to ensure your child doesn’t go too fast
Final Thoughts
As a rule of thumb, helmets, knee and elbow pads, and a speed limiter should always be a standard for kids riding an electric vehicle of any kind. Thankfully, e-bike manufacturers have considered your child’s safety and made it a top priority when designing their products, including speed limiters, assisted braking, and remote control functions for parents to ensure their child’s safety as they ride. With that in mind, we’d say yes, electric bikes are safe for kids.