Hatzolah of Rockland County released an urgent warning on Wednesday, saying they have seen a “frightening uptick” in serious accidents involving electric bikes and scooters, and are urging the community to be aware of the dangers involved in operating the toys.
E-bikes and electric scooters are becoming increasingly popular, but these powered bikes and scooters carry a higher risk of severe injuries than traditional bicycles and scooters due to higher speed capabilities. Unsafe riding and collisions can result in serious injury or death” Hatzolah wrote in a flyer distributed Wednesday morning.
To underscore the danger of e-bikes and scooters, Hatzolah cited a recent study which found that patients involved in e-bike accidents had higher incidents of traumatic brain injuries than patients involved in non-electric bicycle accidents, despite e-bike riders wearing helmets at nearly twice the rate of regular bikers.
“We ask all parents to think twice before sending out their precious children on these bikes and scooters,” Hatzolah said. “Although they can be a fun and efficient way to get around, the risks of serious injury must be considered.”
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8 Responses
This article only addresses the danger to children riding electric bikes. How about the danger to pedestrians? Too many of these irresponsible kids drive electric bikes on sidewalks at breakneck speed at night. As one who was missed by mere inches coming home from maariv, I would like to ask Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva to forbid their use. Thus far, only Rabbi Yaakov Bender has taken a stand.
It is all about the parents!
I observe many yeshivah kids going home on these devices after school and the ride appears to be dangerous. I wonder how the parents permit this, really. Then I realize, the parents encourage this. maybe in other decades the parents would pickup their kids from school, but a few hundred dollars, a few cents to recharge and there is no need for a parent to pick up.
We recently were in Borough Park and the amount of e-bikes, e-scooters and the likes is astounding. They ride in all directions on the sidewalk and street with amazing speed and without any regard to people; be it pedestrian traffic as well as vehicular traffic. They don’t stop at corners nor do they respect anyone. Never mind that gar too many are without helmets, my primary fear was getting mowed over by one. I’m hearing that elderly are simply afraid to leave their homes for fear of getting hit. They carry no insurance protection whatsoever. That is needed for the commonfolk who are vulnerable. Where are the askonim? Where are the elected officials? Where is law enforcement? I was shocked and also happy to get out of there. To me it seems like a serious breach of safety. In haymish communities the Mitzvah of ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם this should be addressed. Are we chalila waiting for an accident to happen first? Why not be proactive rather than reactive?
Its possible that Rockland being more suburban..hilly..is more dangerous than city.
Buy the older scooters that have a lower speed
Are there any accident stats on the frum community to measure level of danger
I live in Israel, and it is worse here. They mamash bike in the middle of the street.
I told a guy riding a bike that he shouldn’t be in the middle of the road, and he replied that that is the law. I said who cares about the law? it’s still dangerous. He’s risking his life saving a few thousand on a car.
Kids zip down the sidewalks at high speed and act as if it’s your responsibility to get out of the way. They have no problem missing little kids & babies by mere inches.
When I’m out with my kids I’ve started making it my practice that when I see a scooter/Segway coming, to stand purposely in their way so they have to slow down before reaching anywhere near my kids.
“… despite e-bike riders wearing helmets….” I would suggest that just no-one would dream to ride a motorbike with a cycle helmet, so too better, stronger helmets are required for electro scooters/bikes.
Cycle helmets are not made to withstand the impact of 30-40km/h speed.
In Europe, people ride mopeds at max. 30km/h and have much better helmets, though still not as heavy as the motorbike ones.
There is another aspect about electro scooters and hover-boards: Children using them are completely deprived from any vital physical activity. Besides of Shabbos/Yom Tove they never use their legs. It didn’t harm us, it won’t harm them to go to school by bicycle or even walk.