Recent crashes prompting concerns over e-bike safety

SPRINGFIELD, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Electric bicycles, otherwise known as e-bikes have grown in popularity over the last few years, but a string of serious, even deadly, crashes in recent months is prompting safety warnings across western Massachusetts.

E-bikes can be found in cities across the country, including in Massachusetts, but officials are now raising concerns with the different types of e-bikes they are seeing on the roads, in neighborhoods, and on bike trails. Within the last few months, there have been several e-bike-related crashes including two in Greenfield, one of which was deadly, and another in Montague last weekend. Facebook safety warning posts have also been popping up from police departments in Longmeadow and West Springfield.

Dr. Peter Antkowiak from Baystate Medical Center’s emergency department told us they do see frequent accidents in the summertime and fall involving e-bikes and scooters. “Your brain is a very important organ and traumatic injuries to the brain are serious and can cause long term disability and possible death,” he explained. “I would say not wearing a helmet is a terrible idea.”

Antkowiak said the three most common e-bike related injuries that they see include blunt trauma, orthopedic, and torso. Some e-bikes fall under Levels 1 and 2 under Massachusetts law and once a bike exceeds either 20 miles per hour or 750 watts, they then have reached Level 3 and those e-bikes have to be registered. Much of the recent concern from officials is due to these e-bikes that no longer fall into Levels 1 or 2. “When you’re going 30 miles per hour, the energy mechanism of injury is going to be higher, so having specialized helmets can be helpful,” he noted.

Being at a greater risk while operating these faster and more powerful e-bikes, Antkowiak said he doesn’t think children should operate the bikes and people riding e-bikes are not the only ones at risk for injury. “Anytime you hit a moving or stationary object on the road as a car, a lot can happen, your air bags can go off, you can spin or swerve, or hit another car,” he added.

It is best to check with Massachusetts state law on any regulations or restrictions related to your e-bike.