50 signatures reached
To: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Stricter Requirements For Selling or Purchasing ebikes
Ebikes are advertised and sold as bikes. No age restrictions or required licensing, education nor training make these products terribly dangerous and even fatal. In Pinellas County, the ONLY laws for ebikes are related to speed caps, whether or not they have pedals, or requirements involving modifications. There is NO sense of danger in the advertising and sales of these products, as they are. Parents are buying ebikes for their young children, as they believe these are as safe as bicycles, and that has proven NOT to be true. There should absolutely be stricter warnings upon purchasing ebikes, age restrictions, and more safety education available. Parents and children should be made fully aware and warned when purchasing them, the added safety risks compared to manual bicycles. There needs to be stricter requirements to purchase and operate one. There also needs to be a huge distinction between an ebike and a bicycle in advertising, and upon purchase. My son was 19 when he lost his life riding an ebike, and I know he isn't the youngest victim thus far. He was safer in his motorcycle accident last year, as he was fully aware of the risks of a motorcycle and wore proper riding gear and a helmet. If he had been aware of these risks on an ebike, he would have done the same, but just as many others, we were all led to believe he was just as safe on an ebike, as he was on a bicycle.
Why is this important?
Ebikes are advertised and sold as bicycles, therefore, the dangers and safety risks are often overlooked by consumers. Without ANY age restrictions, education requirements or proper warnings upon buying ebikes, they are assumed to be as safe as riding a bicycle, and that is just NOT true. Please help us push for stricter warnings and requirements upon advertising, selling and purchasing ebikes.