As electric bikes and scooters become more common on neighborhood streets and trails, AAA is urging parents to learn the rules and risks before allowing children to ride. AAA – The Auto Club Group has launched its new E-Ride Ready campaign, featuring a free E-Ride Safety Guide designed to help families understand how e-bikes and e-scooters work, choose the right safety gear and establish riding rules before a child’s first trip.
“E-rides have spread so quickly that laws, infrastructure, and safety awareness haven’t kept pace,” says AAA Nebraska spokesman Brian Ortner. “That leaves many parents trying to figure out what’s safe, what’s allowed, and what rules to set. AAA’s E-Ride Ready campaign helps to close that gap.”
The campaign comes as injuries involving electric bikes and scooters continue to climb. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, micromobility-related injuries increased an average of 23 percent annually between 2017 and 2022, resulting in an estimated 360,800 emergency department visits and 233 deaths.
Medical experts say crashes often involve motor vehicles, pedestrians and fixed objects such as curbs and mailboxes. Ortner said younger riders may not have the experience needed to safely navigate traffic.
“As e-rides become more common, younger riders are often sharing the road with traffic before they fully understand how to navigate it safely,” Ortner says. “When you combine higher speeds with limited experience, the risk of a serious crash increases quickly. That’s why it’s critical for parents to stay involved and set clear expectations before a child rides.”
AAA is also emphasizing the importance of helmets, noting many riders either skip them or wear helmets not designed for the speeds electric bikes and scooters can reach. “Helmets can make all the difference in a crash,” Ortner says. “Parents should make sure riders wear a properly fitted helmet on every ride and ensure it matches the speed and capabilities of the device.”
AAA’s free E-Ride Safety Guide includes information on different types of e-bikes and scooters, helmet recommendations, riding safely around traffic and pedestrians, and conversation starters to help parents establish expectations.
“E-bikes and e-scooters can be a fun and convenient way to get around, but they require more awareness and responsibility than many families expect,” Ortner said. “When parents understand the risks and set clear expectations, they can help prevent crashes before they happen.”
You can check out the free E-Ride Safety Guide at sm.AAA/ERideReady.