E-bike injuries surge as North Carolina leaders push for tighter safety rules

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - Law enforcement officers, lawmakers and safety advocates gathered Thursday for a traffic safety summit focused on preventable deaths on North Carolina roads.

Speeding, phone use and alcohol were identified as the three deadliest habits behind the wheel in North Carolina.

“How do we change human behavior so that we understand the impacts of texting and driving and drinking and driving and all the things that human behavior allows us to sometimes make mistakes with,” said state Sen. Michael Lazzara.

For years, safety campaigns have reminded drivers that buckling a seatbelt can save their life. State leaders said the rules of the road are changing quickly once people step out of cars and onto two wheels.

Emergency rooms nationwide are seeing a surge in e-bike and scooter injuries, topping 300,000 visits over five years.

“These e-bikes can go fast, there’s basically three categories of them, and as you progress through the categories, you need to get a lot more serious about the type of helmet you use,” said a spokesperson for the National Council for Safe Transportation.

E-bikes can reach top speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour. Advocates said parents should treat them like motorcycles, not toys.

“This is not a joke; this is not something people are being too reactionary on. This is a serious issue, and parents need to take a look at it,” the NCAST spokesperson said.

A new state law taking effect December 1 will change how e-bikes are classified and regulated in North Carolina.

Section 19 of S.L. 2026-46 adopts a three-class system for e-bikes, matching classifications used by most other states. Under the law, an e-bike is defined as a two- or three-wheeled bicycle with pedals and an electric motor of no more than 750 watts, falling into one of three classes:

• Class 1 — assists only while pedaling, up to 20 mph
• Class 2 — assists whether pedaling or not, up to 20 mph
• Class 3 — assists only while pedaling, up to 28 mph

The law expands the definition of “electric assisted bicycles” to include Class 3 e-bikes, which were previously classified as mopeds. Under the new definition, e-bikes will generally be considered electric-assisted bicycles or motorcycles, but not mopeds, depending on their maximum powered speed or motor size.

The law also creates a new statute, G.S. 20-171.3, allowing e-bikes on any roadway, bicycle lane or sidewalk, subject to additional rules from local governments or the state Department of Natural and Cultural Resources on property it oversees. Riders or passengers under 18 on a Class 3 e-bike will be required to wear a helmet. Violating the helmet requirement on or after December 1 will be an infraction under G.S. 20-176.

The law also directs the state Department of Transportation to develop educational materials on the proper use and safety of electric-assisted bicycles.

Local leaders are pushing to tighten city and county ordinances before more riders end up in the hospital.

“We don’t allow that for bicycles; we shouldn’t allow that for an e-bike. We want safe mobility, and that is exactly why we’re here today is to have these conversations,” Lazzara said.

State leaders said that as the holiday shopping season approaches, parents considering an e-bike purchase should research classifications, check local speed laws and invest in a certified helmet before putting riders on the road.