A motorcyclist’s open letter to e-bike riders

I know what you’re thinking: You’re just a regular person not a psycho, adrenaline-junkie biker with regrettable tattoos and a thirst for fear. I understand, because that’s not who I am either. I ride a motorcycle for a lot of the same reasons you have that e-bike — the freedom and innocence of moving around on wheels, with the wind in your face, is refreshing.

Until you fall down, that is. 

As a motorcyclist, I have always known how bad a crash could be, even before I did it, because to this day practically everyone I ever meet tells me how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle. You probably haven’t been told any horror stories about a friend or relative being bloodied or maimed on a bicycle because that’s just not what bicycles do. Bicycles are seen as simple and friendly. A perfectly reasonable gift for a child.

That e-bike you have isn’t quite the same. Yes, it depends what kind of e-bike you have, and hopefully you did some research on the different classes before you set out into the world. Very basically, most e-bikes sold have a maximum speed of 20 to 28 miles per hour. Sometimes you have to pedal, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes it’s technically an e-moto, with no pedals at all. I don’t even understand all of the nuances of it and I’m a lifelong rider-of-things.

The extremely important thing to remember is that if you fall off the contraption, whatever it is, the ground does not care what it’s called. The laws of physics do not abide by any guidelines written by a state or local government. Gravity doesn’t care that it’s just a Class 1, gentle enough that it’s legal for bike paths and some walking routes.

Asphalt takes skin away with no remorse. Concrete and gravel are harder than your head — heck, you can get concussed on a lawn. If all of this sounds condescending and alarmist, it’s not meant to be. It’s more, let’s say, communal. I don’t look at you riding an e-bike and see an enemy or a fraud, I see a kindred spirit. I enjoy that same refreshment, and I drink that same tonic.

The big difference is that I wear a jacket made out of abrasion-resistant material, protective gloves, long pants, and sturdy shoes. We have a saying in the motorcycle world: “Dress for the crash, not for the ride.” It’s a little bit pessimistic, but let me tell you it has proven to be good in practice. Feel free to interpret that saying as you like, but it’s good to know that a little bit of gear goes a long way.

Have you ever seen a motorcycle rider speeding down a highway wearing shorts and a T-shirt and thought, “Is that person crazy?!” Same here. But, here’s the thing, I have those same thoughts when I see a retired couple dressed for the beach, merging with traffic at 25 mph on their e-bikes. Or a college-aged girl with jean shorts and a bikini top, riding a Lime/Bird scooter with one hand while looking at her phone. Or a pack of middle-school boys in basketball shorts doing wheelies on their Super73s.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for all of those people just like I’m happy for you. Again, I love seeing the freedom and the joy that traveling on two wheels represents. However, I am thoroughly convinced that none of those riders I just described are appreciating how vicious the ground can feel at that speed.

In one article I found about abrasions, the Cleveland Clinic says that “an abrasion is similar to using a piece of sandpaper to remove paint from an object.” That’s a great visual, I think. We wouldn’t expect a treadmill or a piece of sandpaper to have any sympathy, and it’s the same with asphalt or concrete. Under “prevention,” the same article says to be “aware of your surroundings, especially if you’re around … rough objects.” When we ride anything, we’re around a rough object — the ever-present road beneath us.

This is when you start thinking, “Ohhh, I get it, this guy works for a motorcycle-apparel retailer and he wants me to buy helmets and gloves from his company.” I promise you that’s not what this is about. If I get my way, you will end up enjoying your e-bike so much that you’ll dabble with some type of motorcycle, sure, but only because I know you like some of the same feelings I like. 

In fact, for now I’m not saying you have to wear any safety gear beyond a helmet, I’m only asking you to understand what happens if you don’t. For me, part of putting on that gear I mentioned earlier is partly a ritual of remembering why it exists — thinking about the fact that you might hit the ground is a good way to come to terms with what you’re about to do. Every time.

Even if you do everything right, things can go wrong. And e-bikes are harder to control than just a bicycle — they are faster, which increases the practical reaction time, plus they are heavier which can mean it is harder to stop or maneuver. You can tell yourself all day long that it’s just a little extra juice, that it’s only pedal-assist, or that 28 mph isn’t that fast. It’s more complicated than that.

One generation ago we didn’t have toys like this. There’s no precedent, which is why millennials and Gen-Xers (i.e., parents) struggle to comprehend the consequences, and why governments haven’t responded quickly enough. As of the publishing of this article, dozens of states have legislation in motion that relates to (re)classification and regulation of electric bicycles. In the meantime, doctors are seeing the results of e-bike accidents and waving their arms at all of us to be careful.

Next time you see a person riding a motorcycle down the freeway wearing a tank top and shorts, remember that not all motorcyclists are like that. Some of us want to welcome you to the world of two wheels, to the enjoyment and to that lovely tonic, cautiously. We want you here for a long time as well as a good time.