Let’s Separate Data from Fear

There’s a growing narrative that “e-bikes are making trails and roads more dangerous.”

But when you look at the actual data — not headlines, not social media clips — the story becomes much clearer.

Bicycle fatalities have existed for decades. Long before pedal-assist motors were introduced. Long before Class 1 e-bikes were even a category.

If we’re going to make smart policy decisions — especially here in Pennsylvania — we need facts, not fear.

The Reality: Bicycle Fatalities Are Not New

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were:

1,166 pedalcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2023
Nearly 50,000 bicycle-related injuries
81% of fatalities occurred in urban areas
53% occurred in darkness
34% involved alcohol (driver and/or rider)

The average age of cyclists killed? 48 years old.
87% were male.

These trends have been developing for years — well before widespread e-bike adoption.

The primary contributing factors remain:

Motor vehicle interaction
Low visibility conditions
Alcohol impairment
Road design
Risky behavior

Not whether a bicycle has a 250-watt assist motor.

(Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts 2023 Report)

Here’s the Important Clarification Most People Miss

Beginning in 2022, NHTSA reporting categories began including “motorized bicycles” under pedalcyclists.

That means federal crash data often does not clearly separate:

Traditional pedal bicycles
Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes
Throttle bikes
High-powered electric dirt bikes

When someone says “e-bikes are driving deaths,” the dataset itself does not cleanly isolate compliant pedal-assist bicycles.

That distinction matters.

What About E-Bike Fatalities Specifically?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tracks micromobility-related incidents across categories.

From 2017–2023, CPSC reported awareness of:

193 e-bike related fatalities
Approximately 87,400 emergency room visits involving e-bikes

Important context:

These are not limited to roadway traffic crashes.
Some involve loss of control.
Some involve motor vehicle crashes.
A small percentage involve battery fires.

As adoption increases, incident numbers naturally rise — just like they did when mountain biking exploded in the 1990s.

More riders = more total incidents.
That does not automatically equal higher per-rider danger.

(Source: CPSC Micromobility Report 2017–2023)

Not All “E-Bikes” Are the Same

This is where policy conversations often go sideways.

Federal law defines a “low-speed electric bicycle” as:

Operable pedals
Less than 750 watts
Motor-only speed under 20 mph

Most states use the 3-Class system:

Class 1 – Pedal assist only, cuts off at 20 mph
Class 2 – Throttle capable, max 20 mph
Class 3 – Pedal assist only, cuts off at 28 mph

A Class 1 pedal-assist bike:

Requires pedaling
Cuts power at 20 mph
Closely resembles a traditional bicycle
Is widely used for commuting, health, and trail access

An electric dirt bike that:

Has no pedals
Exceeds speed limits
Weighs significantly more
Is throttle-dominant

… is not the same thing.

Lumping them together is like calling a moped and a Harley-Davidson the same vehicle.

What Actually Drives Bicycle Fatalities?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) confirms that the overwhelming majority of bicyclist deaths involve collisions with motor vehicles.

Common factors include:

Speed of automobiles
Poor lighting
Roadway design
Impairment
Failure to yield

The presence of a compliant pedal-assist motor does not fundamentally change those core risk factors.

If someone rides recklessly — whether on a BMX bike, a road bike, or a Class 1 e-bike — behavior is the issue.

Not electricity.

The Pennsylvania Conversation

Here in Pennsylvania, trail systems like the GAP and Sheepskin Trail are major tourism drivers. Riders use Class 1 pedal-assist bikes for:

Health and mobility
Age-related assistance
Joint preservation
Commuting
Extending range
Supporting local businesses

When we talk about regulating access, we must distinguish between:

✔ Class-compliant pedal-assist bicycles
and
✘ High-speed electric dirt bikes masquerading as bicycles

Target the actual problem.

Don’t penalize responsible riders who are following the rules.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and local trail authorities have an opportunity to lead with balanced, data-driven policy — not reactionary bans.

The Balanced Approach

If safety is the real goal, then focus on:

Enforcing class compliance
Removing illegal high-speed devices from trails
Improving visibility standards
Addressing impaired riding and driving
Investing in infrastructure
Educating riders

That’s smart safety.

Blanket fear-based restrictions are not.

Final Thought

Bicycle fatalities are serious.
Every life matters.

But the data shows clearly:

This is a road safety issue.
A visibility issue.
A behavior issue.
An infrastructure issue.

It is not simply an “e-bike problem.”

Class 1 pedal-assist bicycles are tools — tools for health, access, recreation, and economic impact.

If we regulate intelligently, enforce fairly, and separate fact from fear, we can protect safety and preserve access.

And that’s the balance we should be fighting for.

Sources

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts 2023
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Micromobility Report (2017–2023)
https://www.cpsc.gov
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Bicycle Fatality Statistics
https://www.iihs.org

📊 National Crash Data

Title: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts – Pedalcyclist Data
Anchor Text: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bicycle fatality data
URL: https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/Publication/813739

🔍 Federal E-Bike Definition

Title: 15 USC §2085 – Low-Speed Electric Bicycle Law
Anchor Text: federal definition of low-speed electric bicycle
URL: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/2085

⚙️ 3-Class E-Bike Model

Title: PeopleForBikes Electric Bike Policy Overview
Anchor Text: three-class electric bike system
URL: https://www.peopleforbikes.org/electric-bikes/policies-and-laws

🚨 Micromobility Injury Report

Title: CPSC Micromobility Injury and Fatality Report 2017–2023
Anchor Text: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission e-bike injury data
URL: https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/Micromobility-Products-Related-Deaths-Injuries-and-Hazard-Patterns_2017-2023.pdf

📈 Insurance Data

Title: IIHS Bicyclist Fatality Statistics
Anchor Text: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety bicycle crash statistics
URL: https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/bicyclists

Stop Blaming E-Bikes: The Real Cause of Bicycle Fatalities in America