E-Bikes and Summer: Keeping Our Community Safer

E-bikes are becoming a familiar sight across Delaware and much of the country. From neighborhood streets to beach towns and bike trails, children, teens and adults are embracing this fun and convenient way to get around.

But with that growth comes a serious concern.

Emergency departments and trauma centers across the country are seeing a significant rise in e-bike injuries – and Bayhealth is no different. Many of these injuries involve broken bones, head trauma, spinal injuries and in some cases, fatalities.

As a trauma surgeon, Patrick Elliott, DO, of Bayhealth, has witnessed the consequences. "I've seen firsthand the devastating consequences of e-bike injuries, including the loss of a child. It's something I never want to experience again. If a conversation about helmets, supervision and safe riding can prevent even one family from going through that kind of tragedy, then it's a conversation worth having," said Dr. Elliott.

The good news is that many of these injuries are preventable.

Five Tips to Be a Responsible E-Bike Rider

Whether you're a new rider or have been riding for years, these simple habits can help keep you safe:

1. Wear a Helmet Every Time - A properly fitted helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you can wear. A helmet can help make a serious crash survivable, protecting your brain and your future.
2. Respect the Speed - Many e-bikes can travel 20 mph or faster. Ride at a safe speed and adjust for traffic, pedestrians and road conditions.
3. Stay Focused - Put away your phone and avoid distractions. Your attention belongs on the road.
4. Ride One Person Per Seat - Most e-bikes are designed for a single rider. Carrying passengers can affect balance and increase the risk of a crash.
5. Know the Rules of the Road - Obey traffic signals, stop signs and local regulations. Predictable riders are safer riders. While e-bikes are not considered motor vehicles in Delaware, riders are expected to follow the same rules of the road as bicyclists. That means everyone — drivers, riders and pedestrians — shares the responsibility of staying alert, respecting one another and helping keep our roads safe.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents play a critical role in e-bike safety.

Before handing over the keys to an e-bike, consider whether your child has the maturity, judgment and awareness needed to operate it safely. Talk about expectations before they ride and establish clear rules about where they can go and who they can ride with.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that an e-bike is just a bicycle," said Dr. Elliott. "The reality is that these are powerful machines capable of speeds that require responsibility, awareness and good decision-making."

Just as importantly, model safe behavior yourself. Children are more likely to take safety seriously when they see adults doing the same.

A Message to Our Community

E-bike safety isn't just about riders and parents. It's about all of us.

Drivers should be aware that e-bikes are increasingly sharing our roads, neighborhoods and intersections. Riders should respect traffic laws and ride responsibly. Parents should have ongoing conversations about safety.

We all have a role to play in protecting one another.

"As a clinician, parent and grandparent, I'd much rather have a five-minute conversation about safety today than care for a child with a preventable injury tomorrow," said Deborah Eberly, BSN, CEN, CNML, trauma services clinical manager of 45 years.

At Bayhealth, we believe prevention starts with education and community responsibility. When we look out for one another — whether we're driving, riding or walking —we create a safer Delaware for everyone.

This summer, let's make safety a shared commitment. A little extra awareness today could save a life tomorrow.