BBC article. E-bike injuries...

[Carlton green]

"E-bike injuries are a massive burden, say surgeons."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2ejgrw9yepo

Thanks for posting this, I suggest that members read the whole of the article.

As a general comment e-bikes are like any other tool, some will use a tool wisely and others will not. All one can do is educate people to somehow ensure safe use and reduce the capacity of the tool to do harm. It’s interesting that power is not the only factor in damage done, weight is too so it likewise needs capping.

[a.twiddler]

Is there much adjustability elsewhere? I'd often wondered about hiring a bike in a city but haven't got around to it yet. I see people riding about on basic ebikes locally and they stand out because they ride bolt upright, high bars, even leaning slightly backwards. With ebikes I imagine you'd buy one with a frame size to fit, but with hire bikes there must be a bit of adjustability to try to fit a wide range of riders. Plus the extra weight to try to make them crash proof as hire riders probably wouldn't be as kind to them as they would to something they'd bought themselves.

[Nearholmer]

So far as I can see, the ones round where I live (Lime, Santander, and some Bluey-green ones) all adjust only in respect of seat height, so a small rider has the bars very high compared to a normal bike.

Also worth looking out for LimeGliders, which are sit-down, twist throttle scooters. They really are micro-mopeds, but I think they are restricted to a lower speed (20kph) and have no pedalling function. I haven’t seen one yet, but I think they are on trial in London.

All one can do is educate people to somehow ensure safe use and reduce the capacity of the tool to do harm

Well, some tools are so potentially destructive (guns; certain knives; motorcycles; cars etc) that we do go a bit beyond simply educating people and incorporating safety features.

Which takes us back to some of the “e bikes” which are involved in nasty accidents actually being motorcycles, rather than EAPC, and the question of how effectively the legislative controls around them are being exercised.