Sharp Increase in E-Bike Crashes Prompts a San Diego County Public Health Alert
With an alarming increase in e-bike and high-powered illegal electric motorcycle accidents causing serious injuries and sometimes death, San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer today announced the County’s Public Health Officer has issued a Public Health Alert warning families, health care providers, schools, and community partners about the growing safety threat. Read the public health alert link HERE.
“A public health alert is one of the strongest tools our county has to warn San Diegans when people are getting hurt, and the danger is preventable. Far too many kids are ending up in our emergency rooms, and that’s not acceptable,” said Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer.
The danger is driven by a risky combination: many young riders have little understanding of traffic laws, have not taken driver’s education, and are sharing roads with cars, trucks, pedestrians, and other children. In some cases, the risk is amplified by companies selling high-powered electric motorcycles that may require a motorcycle license to operate legally, while marketing them like regular e-bikes. Many parents may not realize what they are buying for their children.
“The growing number of severe injuries among young riders makes it clear that deceivingly powerful e‑bikes pose a significant danger to children,” said Sayone Thihalolipavan, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “Today we issued a local health alert to raise awareness on the severity of the issue and ask our medical community to routinely screen for e-bike use during injury and well visits by using two specific medical codes. It is possible e-bike injuries are being unreported due to being misclassified as non-electric bicycle injuries. Getting better data will help us highlight the seriousness of this public health issue.”
In response to the rise in injuries, Lawson-Remer is planning to host several e-bike safety classes in communities throughout San Diego County in the coming months. The classes will provide in-person safety training for young riders and families. Lawson-Remer will also host bike helmet giveaways, with dates to be announced soon.
“We can keep e-bikes as a fun, healthy way to get around — but only if we treat safety like it matters,” said Chair Lawson-Remer.
DATES:
YMCA 6/27
Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA Gymnastics Center
2261 Cosmos Ct, Carlsbad, CA 92011
YMCA 7/11
T. Claude and Gladys B. Ryan Family YMCA
4390 Valeta St, San Diego, CA 92107
YMCA 7/25
Rancho Family YMCA
9410 Fairgrove Ln, San Diego, CA 92129
YMCA 8/8
Dan McKinney Family YMCA
8355 Cliffridge Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
YMCA 8/22
Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA
200 Saxony Rd, Encinitas, CA 92024
The confirmed classes are three-hour, in-person bike safety trainings. Additional helmet giveaway dates will be announced soon.
Background:
Video of Earlier E-Bike Safety Webinar with Scripps Trauma Specialists: