5 Tips for e-Bike Safety

Simple safety tips from an emergency department physician.

Rules of the Road

New e-bike safety laws and regulations put into action in California as of January 1, 2026, include:

A provision allowing for citing parents of minors who commit offences while riding electric bicycles.

An option for minors cited specifically for helmet violations is to clear their fines by completing a California Highway Patrol-approved safety course.

A requirement for all electric bicycles to have either a red rear reflector or a solid or flashing red rear light that includes a built-in reflector. This must be used during all hours of operation, including daytime riding.

The beauty of being on a bike is seeing the world in a different way — fast and free. E-bike use is a growing trend throughout the South Bay, providing an enjoyable, affordable and eco-friendly way to get around. However, local emergency departments are seeing an increase in e-bike injuries, many of which could be prevented.

Though there are risks, e-bikes are great for both recreation and transportation, and here in Southern California they can be used year-round. Kurt Hansen, MD, a Torrance Memorial emergency department physician, says e-bike riders can stay safe with the right equipment and education.

1. Wear a Helmet; Wear it Correctly

“The 100% absolute most important thing is a helmet,” Dr. Hansen says. “The head is good at getting hit. It’s strong, but when you add a motor and speed, that’s where the danger to your brain comes in.”

A helmet only works if it’s worn correctly. “Sometimes kids wear a helmet but don’t clip it under the chin. When they go flying the helmets go flying, and their heads hit the ground,” he says.

2. Use Additional Safety Gear

Maintaining visibility is important. Riders should wear bright clothing, use reflectors and stay in bike lanes. In many car-versus-bicycle accidents, besides head injuries, cyclists experience broken hips or a fractured pelvis. E-bike accidents also often lead to broken wrists, elbows and collarbones, and severe soft-tissue injuries. Wrist guards, kneepads and thick clothing can also help reduce injuries.

3. Watch for Cars and Pedestrians

“Anyone over 16 with a driver’s license has a better sense of road safety. You understand what happens at an intersection; you understand what blind spots are,” Dr. Hansen says. “My biggest concern for riders who haven’t taken driving lessons is they don’t understand the unpredictability of traffic.”

E-bikes present a risk for pedestrians too. “If you have 80 pounds of bike with a 170-pound human on it going 20 miles an hour, it’s going to do damage. And you’re liable,” Dr. Hansen says.

4. Understand Traffic Laws

Anyone on an e-bike needs to know where they can ride and how to yield, cross intersections, regulate speed and so on. Dr. Hansen has three sons, ages 7, 11 and 14. He says if he ever gives them regular access to e-bikes, they will have training first.

One option he’s considered is E-Bike Sense—a safety course that teaches kids to ride responsibly. The company’s owner and founder is Megan Lamb, a South Bay resident and former competitive cyclist.

“Every time I would see a local kid riding recklessly, my heart sank. So when my son begged me for an e-bike, I insisted on formal training. There wasn’t a safety course specifically geared toward kids,” she says. “Our training helps them consider the realities and risks of e-bikes.”

5. Teach Teens to Use e-Bikes Responsibly

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports around 40% of e-bike-related injuries involve riders under 18. Head injuries account for 60% of hospital visits involving e-bike accidents. It’s up to parents to reinforce safe use.

“Without a helmet, you can hit your head and it can change the course of your entire life trajectory,” Dr. Hansen says. “Speed is also key, so I would set some limits.”

Kids need to know their e-bikes are fun, useful and powerful. They have a responsibility to ride them carefully. An accident might mean they miss a season of their sport or a semester of school … or worse. And if they hurt someone else—a pedestrian or a friend—there can be lifelong consequences.

“Parents need to sit down with their kids and tell them, ‘Let’s be safe. Here’s what we do so the person you want to be is still there. Helmet use has to be non-negotiable — meaning there’s no riding without a helmet.’” 

Dr. Kurt Hansen obtained an undergraduate degree at University of California Los Angeles and went on to medical school at University of California at Davis where he earned Alpha Omega Alpha honors. He then followed with residency in Emergency Medicine at Los Angeles County-Harbor UCLA Medical Center where he was also part of a team that won a national competition among trainees for simulated critical care. 

His special interests include orthopedics and sports injuries stemming from a life of sports. Dr. Hansen additionally works with the Resuscitation Committee working to improve the hospital response to critical patients anywhere on campus. Outside the hospital, Dr. Hansen enjoys spending time with his wife, 3 young boys and large extended family.