SPOKANE, Wash. – As e-bikes become increasingly popular on local streets, safety experts are urging parents to carefully consider the risks before purchasing one as a holiday gift for children.
Jon Amend, owner and manager of The Bike Hub on South Perry in Spokane and a lieutenant and EMT with Fire District 9, acknowledges the appeal of e-bikes while emphasizing the importance of understanding their capabilities and limitations.
“It’s really cool that there are e-bikes out there for people to ride,” Amend said. “You see more people getting fit, spending time outside, having fun, not driving, commuting. Things like that, so they’re great.”
However, local authorities have raised concerns about safety, particularly regarding electric motorcycles and scooters. The Coeur d’Alene School District and police department recently issued warnings about these devices, stating they violate city ordinances and are causing an average of one collision per week.
E-bikes are classified into three main categories:
Class 1: Pedal assist only, with maximum assisted speed of 20 mph
Class 2: Equipped with pedal assist and throttle, maximum speed of 20 mph
Class 3: Pedal assist with speeds up to 28 mph, some may include throttle
Electric motorcycles, or “e-motos,” are not street-legal in Coeur d’Alene or Spokane.
“You will go faster. They weigh a lot more, so there’s more danger involved,” Amend said.
Research by Children’s Hospital of Orange County found a surge in e-bike pediatric orthopedic injuries nationwide. Doctors compare the severity of these injuries to high-speed car crashes.
Between summer 2024 and 2025, Providence Sacred Heart documented 112 bike accidents involving children. About 25% of those accidents involved children on e-bikes.
“Most commonly we see head injuries and facial injuries,” said Kim Van Hout, Providence’s regional trauma department manager.
Van Hout said these injuries often occur when children ride bikes that are too big or too powerful for them, or when they ride without helmets. The consequences can extend far beyond broken bones or concussions.
She cautioned parents against allowing their children to own or ride highly powered e-motos, warning that one fall could be life-changing.
“It can cause traumatic brain injuries to where they don’t function to the capacity they did prior to the accident, and I don’t think they understand the magnitude of that,” Van Hout said.
Beyond safety concerns, Amend noted that local bike shops won’t service all e-bikes and generally won’t work on e-motos.
For parents still considering an e-bike purchase, experts recommend doing thorough research and consulting with local bike shops to find the right fit, whether that’s an e-bike or a traditional pedal bike.
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