As the popularity of e-bikes continues to climb, so do safety concerns.
“The Sheriff’s Office Traffic Investigators have noticed an increase in e-bike related collisions in the recent years,” Traffic Sergeant Sal Payman of the Poway Station said. Although he noted that most collisions involve a motor vehicle, there has also been an uptick in close calls or collisions between fast-moving e-bikes and pedestrians, especially in shared-use spaces like parks and trails.
Sheriff’s Poway Station Captain Claudia Delgado says that Poway deputies are committed to providing the highest quality public safety service to Poway.
“Children and their safety will always be at the top of the list,” she said. “And with more e-bike riders under the age of 18, we are committed to educating parents and children about the steps they should take to keep safe.”
Education includes helping riders understand their responsibilities, building community support and reducing unintentional rule breaking. The cornerstone is understanding the different classifications of e-bikes and their legal requirements.
“We want to bring awareness to parents who perhaps may not know the difference between classifications of electric bikes and the dangers involved,” Sergeant Payman said.
A key resource is the Sheriff’s e-bike flyer that walks through all aspects of who can ride where, and what classifications have restrictions.
Captain Delgado encourages e-bike safety by asking riders to wear the proper safety equipment, be aware of their surroundings and to know (and follow) traffic laws. Sergeant Payman says his top three pieces of advice for e-bike riders are:
- Understand and respect your speed
- Ride safely, defensively and be seen
- Maintain your e-bike properly
E-bike safety is such a growing concern that the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) partnered with the Sheriff’s Department and San Diego Police Department to provide mandatory safety classes. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, attending the class was required to park an e-bike at school.
Deputy Marshall Abbott, in cooperation with San Diego Police officers, taught 9 classes attended by approximately 1,800 parents and students. PUSD boundaries include public schools in the City of Poway, as well as north inland communities in the City of San Diego and unincorporated County of San Diego. One of the most enlightening parts of the class for many parents was learning the difference between E-bike classes and E-motorcycles.
“Many parents now understood that the Surron or Talaria [bike brands] their students were asking for were not classified as e-bikes but were e-motorcycles and could not legally be ridden on the roadway or trails,” Deputy Abbott said.
Deputy Abbott, who is the Sheriff’s School Resource Officer for Poway schools, has seen the benefit of this program first-hand with more students wearing helmets while riding their e-bikes.
“We finished the classes several months ago,” he said, “and I still have students and parents thanking me.”
While there have been no fatalities in the City of Poway, the risk is there as evidenced by the news of a rider killed just two months ago in San Diego.
“We will continue to educate the public and address incidents in which e-bike riders are not following traffic rules, or observed in situations likely to become dangerous,” Captain Delgado said.
What to do if you are in an e-bike accident
Many of the reporting steps after an e-bike accident are similar to reporting a car accident. The Sheriff’s department offers this step-by-step guide:
- Prioritize Safety First
- Move to a safe location, if possible, to avoid further injury.
- Check for injuries (yourself and others involved)
- Call 9-1-1
- If anyone is injured.
- There's significant damage to property or the e-bike.
- Another party (like a car driver or pedestrian) is involved.
- There's any risk of ongoing danger (e.g., traffic, fire, battery issues).
- Pro Tip: Even in what seems like a minor accident, it's often safer to involve authorities for proper documentation.
- Get a Medical Evaluation
- Always recommended, even if you feel okay.
- Document the Scene
- Take photos of:
- The e-bike and any damage
- Injuries (if visible)
- The accident scene (skid marks, street signs, weather conditions)
- Collect contact information:
- From witnesses
- From other parties involved (license, insurance if a car was involved)
- File a Law Enforcement Report
- Especially important if there's injury, damage, or disputes about fault.
- In some jurisdictions, this is required for insurance claims.
- Notify Your Insurance Company