In June, Hendersonville Police Department stated that it’s seen an increase in e-bike related calls this summer, leading officials to share safety tips and a safety video on social media.
“When it comes to these e-bikes, supervision matters,” HPD Assistant Chief Joshua Morrison said in the safety video. “These children that get these vehicles and they don’t have a lot of experience. Parents need to educate themselves on what type of bike their kid has. They also need to educate their children on the rules of the road and they’re the ones that’re responsible for their children’s safety.”
The state separates e-bikes into three classes. Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assist only, with a motor that motor stops assisting at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes are defined as having throttles, operable pedals and a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. While the first two classes do not include an age restriction, riders of Class 3 e-bikes are required to be at least 16 as of July 1. Class 3 e-bikes have a maximum assisted speed of 28 mph, do not have a throttle and have operable pedals…