Lawmakers, prosecutors and even retailing giant Amazon are taking steps to curb the increasingly serious problem of high-speed e-bikes. These bikes, which can go more than twice the speed of traditional e-bikes and in some cases aren’t operated with pedals, have become a growing menace to pedestrians, bicyclists and even drivers in Los Angeles and throughout the state.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the number of injuries caused by them in Southern California has increased some 430% over the past four years.
E-motos vs. e-bikes
In fact, many note that they aren’t actually e-bikes, even though they look like them – at least from a distance. In April, California Attorney General Rob Bonta said, “Two-wheeled vehicles that go over 28 miles per hour with pedal assistance or 20 miles per hour with throttle assistance are not e-bikes — under California law, they are mopeds or motorcycles and require additional licensing and age requirements to operate and sell.”
They’re often referred to as e-motorcycles or e-motos. Technically, any bike that has over 750 watts of power, can travel faster than 20 mph solely on motor power alone and/or lacks fully operable pedals is considered an e-motorcycle.
What is being done to address the problem?
The majority of those involved in e-moto crashes are between 11 and 14, which is below the minimum age to ride an e-moto in California, which is 16. Because of the young ages of those causing injury and death, prosecutors are charging their parents for crimes as serious as involuntary manslaughter. Some are being charged for their own children’s injuries.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers are working on legislation that would provide more regulations around these high-speed two-wheel electric vehicles. Further, Amazon recently announced that it will no longer sell e-bikes in California that can exceed the state’s speed limits.
Certainly, those who ride traditional and even e-bikes can be catastrophically injured or killed by someone operating an e-moto. While they and potentially their parents can be held criminally responsible, that may not help compensate their victims for their medical costs and other expenses and damages. That’s why it’s crucial to get sound legal guidance as early as possible if you or a loved one has been the victim of a dangerous e-moto rider.
