New Orleans sees spike in e-bike fatalities
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New Orleans is seeing a spike in e-bike fatalities, officials say, amid a national surge in e-bike-related injuries, especially among young riders.
Zoom in: Four e-bike riders have died in New Orleans since April, according to Capt. Buddy Micheu with the New Orleans Police Department in a press conference Thursday.
The big picture: E-bike sales in the U.S. have more than quadrupled over the past five years.
- About 41% of all emergency visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 and 2025 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates.
Context: It's legal to ride e-bikes in bike lanes, on roadways and in mixed-use spaces like the Lafitte Greenway, NOPD officials say.
- But e-bike riders must adhere to the rules of the road just like a car, including stopping at traffic signals, riding with the direction of traffic and staying off pedestrian sidewalks.
How they work: E-bikes travel faster and weigh more than conventional bicycles, making them more difficult for inexperienced riders to control and increasing the risk of serious injuries.
- E-bikes use electric motors that amplify a rider's pedaling effort. Some models include a throttle that propels the bike without pedaling.
- Youth-oriented models are electronically limited to about 20 mph, but some users illegally bypass those speed limiters, substantially increasing both crash and injury risks.
Worthy of your time: The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers a list of tips to prevent e-bike injuries, including wearing a helmet every time, and putting phones and headphones away while riding.