As electric bikes become more common across the Triangle, some residents in Fuquay-Varina say they are concerned about how teens are using them on local roads.
Those concerns have surfaced online, one resident posting on Facebook that children riding e-bikes have been seen running red lights and stop signs, weaving through traffic and, in some cases, colliding with pedestrians.
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For one local teenager, the dangers of e-bikes became reality. 16-year-old Colton Lovette said he's lucky to be here after a crash with a car.
“I was coming home from school in my neighborhood on the road and I went over a blind hill and there was somebody in my lane and neither of us could stop in time. It was a head on, I tried to slam on the brakes and fell off the bike and I went under her car,” Lovette said.
Lovette’s family says the crash serves as a reminder of how dangers the bikes are, especially since some reach high speeds.
Colton's mother, Lauren Lovette, believes stronger regulations and enforcement are needed to prevent future accidents. She pointed out Holly Springs, where town leaders recently approved an ordinance aimed at addressing e-bike safety concerns, that goes into effect on next Monday.
“You know they are kids, they are not making good choices and they are not making smart decisions," Said Lovette. "Whether it be an accident involving themselves only or an accident involving another person, I think they don’t appreciate the damage that they could do to someone else’s family, someone else’s life."
The growing popularity of e-bikes among teenagers has sparked conversations in communities across the country about whether additional rules are needed. Some residents argue the bikes provide transportation for young riders, while others worry about speeding, reckless riding and a lack of following traffic laws.
>> Parents and police warn about growing confusion and safety risks surrounding e-bikes
Earlier this month, Holly Springs police told us many families are unknowingly purchasing vehicles that are not e-bikes, but technically e-motorcycles. Under North Carolina law, any bike capable of traveling faster than 20 miles per hour or equipped with a motor larger than 750 watts is no longer considered an e-bike. Those vehicles require either an M1 or M2 license and a registration to operate.
What qualifies as an e-bike?
- Has a motor of less than 750 watts
- Maximum speed of 20 mph
- Has pedals
- Is allowed on greenways, side paths, and sidewalks
Lovette said many of his classmates and friends regularly ride e-bikes, but after his own experience, he hopes riders take safety more seriously.
“Be cognizant of your impact on others when you’re riding them. Because I was going a little over the speed limit and I think now after the fact, what if that wasn’t a car? What if that was a person that was behind a blind hill and I hit them,” he said.
As municipalities continue weighing how to handle the rise in e-bike use, some families say acting fast and pushing for changes is about preventing the next serious crash before it happens.