E-wheels complicate back-to-school safety
Kids used to have three ways of getting to school: on foot, on a bus or on a bike. School officials in many localities in this area are dreading the new trend toward e-bikes, e-scooters and hoverboards.
Electrically powered two-wheel vehicles seem to be taking over our streets, bike lanes and, sometimes, sidewalks, driven by teens and tweens who don’t necessarily know the rules of the road. Scary. Now couple that with lots of cars and traffic around schools. Even scarier.
As someone who has spent a lot of time around emergency rooms, I urge parents to think twice before buying an e-bike, e-scooter or other motorized vehicle for their child. In some localities, parents can be held liable if their child is caught riding where they shouldn’t or, worse, causing an accident.
Admittedly, state laws can be a bit confusing. New Illinois e-bike laws that went into effect July 1 allow riders as young as 15 to operate e-bikes that don’t exceed 20 mph. High-speed bikes will require a driver's license, insurance and registration. Helmets are recommended but not mandatory.
Localities are allowed to enact more restrictive rules. Several school districts, including in Schaumburg and Evanston-Skokie, have wisely banned the vehicles on their campuses.
ER visits related to e-bikes and e-scooters have increased by 671% for children and adolescents, according to Karen Gilbert Farrar, lead researcher at Truveta, a health data and analytics firm. “Just to put that in context,” she told USA Today, “that’s if one patient was being seen in 2023, that’s now nearly eight patients in 2026.”
Most injuries are to the head and neck, and about 7% involve traumatic brain injury, her research found. Fatalities typically involve a collision with a car or truck or crashing into a fixed object or curb.
This is a three-pronged problem that needs a three-pronged approach — from parents, children and localities — as back-to-school season begins.
Parents
Understand how the state classifies e-bikes and e-scooters so you know what you are buying. Most states regulate e-bikes in three classes: motorized assist with pedals, up to 20 mph; motorized assist with pedals and a throttle, also up to 20 mph; and motorized assist with pedals and a speedometer, up to 28 mph.
Consider not only your child’s age, but also their maturity level, because e-bike riders need good judgment and mature decision-making, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Kids ages 9 to 12 should not be operating any motorized vehicle, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says.
Instruct them on the use of bike lanes and sidewalks, safety in parking lots, speed limits and how to handle themselves at intersections. I would observe them on the road for a time.
And make them wear a helmet. No helmet, no bike or scooter.
Kids
Don’t give your friends rides or let them drive your e-bike or scooter.
Don’t wear headphones or earbuds or talk on the phone. Obey traffic signals and don’t show off — no wheelies. If you’re not supposed to be on the sidewalk, don’t be on a sidewalk.
And wear that helmet your parents are making you wear.
Localities and schools
I hope more cities and school districts will consider restricting e-bikes and e-scooters and not wait until a child is severely injured. They can be brought to school but not ridden on school property.
If the vehicles are allowed, the riders should be carefully monitored to make sure they wear helmets and are not riding recklessly.
When all is said and done, I think the main responsibility for e-bike and e-scooter safety lies with the responsible adult in a child’s life. It comes with the job.
• Teri (Dreher) Frykenberg is a registered nurse and board-certified patient advocate. She is the author of several books on advocacy and founder of Nurse Advocate Entrepreneur, which equips medical professionals with the knowledge and skills to start their own advocacy businesses. Contact her at Teri@NurseAdvocateEntrepreneur.com.