New York – Accidents and injuries involving electric bicycles (e-bikes) are becoming ever more common and worrisome. Large cities, like New York, continue to be plagued by congestion on the roads as well as sidewalks and crosswalks. However, public safety advocates note that the dangers posed by this combination of electric bike crashes and urban congestion are causing an uptick in injuries and even deaths. They explain that the high speeds of an e-bike along with sometimes careless driving behaviors of both bicyclists and motorists can lead to disaster. A bicycle accident involving a traditional bike is dangerous enough but the increased speed and distracted driver problems seen with the newer electrical bikes increases the risks. Some e-bikers dangerously weave in and out of traffic while others speed on sidewalks and through crosswalks, blatantly ignoring traffic signs and signals. More frequent and more serious injuries from e-bike crashes have been noted in some locales, prompting an outcry from community activists. They warn that government officials, police and e-bike riders must take decisive action to prevent injury and wrongful death. The New York Police Department (NYPD) has started crackdowns to confiscate illegal electric bikes from city streets. Pedestrian accidents and car crashes involving these illegal bicycles will hopefully continue to diminish as these crackdowns continue, according to safety experts. This article has more details about the safety concerns and dangers regarding illegal electric bikes.

Photo for illustrative purposes only. Photo Credit: Blondinrikard Froberg [License]