Two e-bike riders were taken to hospital after separate collisions in Chandler, Arizona, prompting police to increase enforcement of rules governing the increasingly powerful vehicles.
Chandler police footage shows one rider entering an intersection without stopping on 5 August before being struck by a car. A second rider was hit by a vehicle about two weeks later. Police said both riders were hospitalised.
In both incidents, officers cited the e-bike rider rather than the motorist, as the department focuses on enforcing local regulations and educating riders about where and how the bikes may be used.
Chandler police said they responded to 168 e-bike-related calls between May and July, issuing 16 citations and 16 warnings during that period. Officers said many collisions involving e-bikes and motorists had involved riders travelling on pavements or against the flow of traffic.
New Chandler e-bike rules
The city introduced its first local e-bike regulations on 11 July. The rules require riders under 18 to wear helmets and set a minimum age of 16 for Class 3 e-bikes, the fastest category.
Class 3 bikes, which use pedal assistance and can reach 28mph, are prohibited on pavements, shared-use paths and in city parks. Class 1 and Class 2 bikes, which reach up to 20mph, are subject to a 15mph limit on pavements and non-canal shared paths, falling to 5mph when passing pedestrians.
The city has also reminded riders that motorised vehicles, including e-bikes, are not allowed on canal paths. Bikes ridden at night must have a front light and a rear red reflector.
Chandler said the new restrictions were introduced after complaints about high-speed e-bikes and concerns over a rise in related injuries. The city has paired the rules with a public education campaign.
Valleywise Health, a major trauma provider in the region, has reported an increase in e-bike injuries and expects to treat twice as many cases this year.
Dr Frank LoVecchio, of Valleywise Health, said the combination of speed, the additional weight of an electric bike and a rider’s lack of protection could turn a collision into a major trauma.
Officials have also warned that some vehicles sold as e-bikes may fall outside Arizona’s legal categories. Bikes capable of exceeding the permitted speeds can instead be treated as motorcycles, requiring registration, insurance and the appropriate licence.
