There was a time when kids begged for a new baseball glove, a basketball hoop, or the latest bike for their birthday. Today, many are asking for something much different: an electric bike or scooter.
They’re everywhere.
Drive through any neighborhood, around any park, or near any baseball complex, and you’ll see groups of kids flying by at speeds that would have been unimaginable on a traditional bicycle. They’re riding to school, heading to practice, meeting friends, and exploring town with a freedom previous generations rarely had.
If your child doesn’t own one, chances are they know someone who does.
The popularity of e-bikes and electric scooters has exploded across Montana and the country. They offer convenience, independence, and a fun way to get around. For many families, they’re replacing rides from mom and dad or even serving as a first taste of transportation before a driver’s license.
But alongside that explosion in popularity comes something far more concerning.
The number of serious crashes involving children has risen dramatically.
Emergency rooms across the United States are treating more broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, facial fractures, spinal injuries, and internal injuries tied to electric bikes and scooters than ever before. Doctors say many of these crashes resemble motorcycle accidents more than bicycle wrecks because of the speeds involved.
Think about it.
Most kids learned to ride a bicycle that topped out around 10 to 12 miles per hour.
Many electric bikes can easily reach 20 mph. Some go 28 mph. Others, especially modified models ordered online, can exceed 35 mph.
At those speeds, there’s very little room for error.
A pothole.
Loose gravel.
A distracted driver.
A friend suddenly turning in front of you.
One bad decision can change a family’s life forever.
What’s even more alarming is who is getting hurt.
Many riders involved in serious crashes are middle school and high school students. Some aren’t wearing helmets. Others are carrying passengers on bikes designed for one rider. Many are riding at dusk without lights, weaving through traffic, ignoring stop signs, or assuming drivers can see them.
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Drivers often aren’t looking for something moving that quickly on sidewalks, crosswalks, or neighborhood streets. What appears to be a bicycle may suddenly be traveling twice as fast as expected, leaving almost no time to react.
Parents have a role to play, too.
Buying an e-bike isn’t the end of the conversation. It’s the beginning.
Would you hand your 13-year-old the keys to a car without teaching them the rules of the road?
Of course not.
Yet many kids are riding machines capable of highway neighborhood speeds without any formal instruction on traffic laws, defensive riding, or basic safety.
That doesn’t mean e-bikes are bad.
Far from it.
They can encourage kids to get outside, reduce vehicle traffic, make commuting easier, and create unforgettable memories with friends.
The goal isn’t to scare families away from them.
The goal is to remind everyone that they deserve the same respect we give any motorized vehicle.
Parents should insist on helmets every ride, no exceptions. Riders should obey traffic laws, stay off their phones, avoid carrying extra passengers unless the bike is designed for it, use lights when visibility is low, and understand that sidewalks are often the most dangerous places because of driveways and intersections.
Communities also have work to do.
As more electric bikes and scooters appear on our streets, cities need clearer rules, schools need better education, and parks and trail systems need signage that reflects today’s reality instead of yesterday’s bicycles.
This isn’t just a “big city” issue anymore.
It’s happening in Butte.
It’s happening across Montana.
It’s happening in towns where everyone knows everyone.
The next heartbreaking story doesn’t have to involve a stranger from somewhere else. It could be the kid who lives down the block. The teammate from Little League. The high school athlete you’ve watched grow up. Your son’s best friend. Your daughter’s classmate.
Or your own child.
Technology will continue to evolve. Kids will always chase what’s new and exciting. That’s part of growing up.
Our responsibility is making sure they grow up safely enough to enjoy it.
Because no parent wants to answer a phone call that starts with, “There’s been an accident.”
And no article about preventable tragedy should ever have to ask the question…
How’d we get here?
