There is no doubt that the electric bike is a fun, quick, and easy way to get around. Riding a bike, electric or not, benefits both physical and mental health and helps build social connections. But where does the line need to be drawn between an enjoyable mode of transport and a dangerous activity?
Recently, there’s been a noticeable rise in the number of students riding e-bikes on and around the school campus. Though, on the surface, e-bikes are an innocuous and efficient way to get around town, their abundance has begun to raise concerns: many students have been seen riding at unsafe speeds on sidewalks, performing risky tricks in front of cars, and ignoring their surroundings. These behaviors have led to numerous complaints from both students and staff, including from freshman Gwenyth Knight, who shared that she has “seen many people injured” from speeding, and that she believes riders are putting themselves in danger because most “don’t know how they should be acting on a normal street”. She has even seen riders be “hit by cars on the road because they were speeding and doing dangerous tricks”.
Overall, most concerns with e-bikes around school are with the safety risk they pose to both riders and pedestrians. Many students seem to forget that operating an electric bike requires responsibility and awareness of traffic rules, and as a result, engage in irresponsible and dangerous behavior. For instance, some bikers have done “wheelies” and other tricks in front of cars, which has caused near collisions. This lack of caution has led to the need for new regulations, says campus security guard Chris Najera: “People should not be riding them on sidewalks or the grass. We need a bike lane for people to travel our campus safely and not compete with pedestrians on the sidewalk”. He further suggests, “Cars drivers have a rule of ‘CLICK [IT] OR TICKET’ meaning you can get a ticket when pulled over if you don’t have a seatbelt buckled. Maybe we need something like that for riding a bike without a helmet”. Furthermore, the speed at which some students ride e-bikes makes it difficult for others to anticipate their movements, increasing the chance of a collision. One student notes that she’s “seen a lot of kids riding really fast on the sidewalk when other people are trying to walk” and that she believes it is “unnecessary to risk hitting someone to get to school 30 seconds earlier”. It is clear there is an urgent need for stricter guidelines and enforcement to ensure everyone’s safety on and around campus.
That being said, when used properly and with vigilance, e-bikes can provide a valuable means for students to get to and from school. One student explains he “personally e-bike[s] and love[s] it” but also exercises caution while riding near and on campus. Senior Griffin Knight claims, “75% of them are fine, but 25% of them are legitimately dangerous and don’t follow the rules on the road”, suggesting just a minority of e-bike-riding students are responsible for the observed problems.
Although electric bikes offer a fun and efficient way to get around, it is crucial for riders to exercise caution and responsibility, especially near school grounds. When used properly, e-bikes can be a valuable transportation option for students, but when used recklessly, they put both riders and pedestrians at risk. Ultimately, action must be taken to ensure all riders follow safety rules in order to maintain a safe environment for everyone.
