E-Bike Safety Tips

Like any motorist, an e-bike rider owes those around them a duty to act carefully and safely. While you cannot control how others act on the road, you can increase your protection and reduce your risk of serious e-bike injuries with the following safety tips:

1. Wear a Helmet

While Texas has no statewide helmet laws, local jurisdictions may have their own regulations. Even if you do not have to legally wear a helmet, doing so helps protect you against serious injuries and head trauma. When choosing a helmet, you should consider a multi-directional impact protection option to reduce rotational impacts and concussion injuries.

2. Understand Texas Laws

Before riding an e-bike, knowing state and local laws is essential. The Texas Transportation Code divides e-bikes into three categories, Class I, II, and III. Class I e-bikes only assist the rider when they are pedaling and do not exceed 20 miles per hour. Class II e-bikes have a motor that propels the bike without the rider pedaling and, like Class I e-bikes, go up to 20 miles per hour. Class III e-bikes have a motor that assists only when the rider pedals and go up to 28 miles per hour.

Other Texas laws all riders should know include the following:

• Age requirements: While Class I and II e-bikes do not have an age requirement, you must be at least 15 years old to ride a Class III e-bike [what are class I, II, and III bikes?].
• Speed limit: An e-bike’s motor cannot be more powerful than 750 watts and cannot exceed 28 miles per hour when the bike is engaged.
• Where you can ride: Texas law treats e-bikes like normal bicycles, so you can ride them on the right shoulder on roadways, bike paths, bike lanes, and bike trails. However, local authorities and protected areas may have their own restrictions.

E-bike riders, just like all motorists, must also follow the rules of the road. This includes obeying traffic signals and lights, avoiding sudden stops, using signals to indicate turns, and operating the vehicle safely.

3. Get Safety Features

When purchasing an e-bike, consider choosing ones with built-in safety features that can help protect you from injuries and ensure you follow state laws. These features include the following:

• Reflectors: Reflectors are fixed on certain parts of your e-bike to catch the eye and help others around you see you.

• Disc brakes: E-bikes are heavier, larger, and faster than traditional bikes, so they take a longer distance to come to a complete stop. Disc brakes give the e-bike appropriate stopping power.

• Class sticker: Your e-bike should have a sticker indicating its class, wattage, and top speed. Knowing this information helps you follow Texas laws and avoid restricted areas.

• Motor-interrupt brake levers: This type of brake lever turns off your motor when you pull it, so if you have to stop immediately or suddenly, your motor will turn off and prevent a serious accident.

With these safety features and other accessories, such as reflective vests, rearview mirrors, and lights, you can stay visible and be more aware of your surroundings when riding an e-bike.

4. Regular Maintenance

E-bikes require regular maintenance to stay safe to operate, so checking your tires, wheels, and brakes to ensure everything is firmly attached and functioning properly can help prevent accidents caused by mechanical errors. 

5. Avoid Carrying Passengers

If your e-bike is not designed to carry a passenger, you should avoid doing so, as you may exceed the bike’s weight limit and impact your bike’s stopping distance. E-bikes built for two people are designed to distribute weight evenly and have safety features that make carrying a passenger safer.