E-bike accident claims climb

There has been a 27-fold increase in accidents involving electric bikes, but advocates say the numbers reflect the success of the new mode of transport, rather than any failure in safety.

Numbers from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) released under an official information request showed a massive increase in accidents that involved e-bikes over the last five years.

Accident claims referencing e-bikes skyrocketed from five in 2013/2014 to 137 in 2017/2018.

Patrick Morgan, from the Cycling Action Network, said the rapid rise in claims reflected the growing popularity of the batteryassisted bikes.

‘‘Overall e-bikes are a great success story for urban transport,’’ Morgan said.

‘‘The rise in claim numbers is not unexpected.’’

Imports of electric bikes grew from 1345 in 2013 to 20,783 in 2017.

Morgan said there were a few reasons for the rise in electric bike-related accidents.

‘‘One reason is that e-bikes appeal to people who haven’t been on bikes for a while,’’ Morgan said.

‘‘They are generally a little older and not used to riding in traffic or on trail. There is also a different handling and weight to an e-bike.’’

However, Morgan said there were also issues that had nothing to do with the cyclist themselves.

‘‘The main hazard here is not the e-bike, it’s the mixing with the traffic,’’ he said.

‘‘So the solution here is to separate people on bikes from other traffic. The answer is not to ban or regulate e-bikes, but rather to tame traffic.’’

Morgan said while some may be alarmed by the increase in accident numbers involving electric bikes, the health benefits far outweighed the concern.

‘‘Riding a bike has a lot more benefits than costs. Its one of the reasons that ACC invests in bike training.’’

ACC and Transport the New Agency Zealand fund BikeReady, an education programme delivered in schools and in adult classes to improve cycling skills.

Meg Page, also known as Electric Meg, travelled the country teaching people how to ride electric bikes.

As Electric Meg she helped companies ditch vehicles in favour of e-bikes.

Page said she was also happy that e-bikes were increasingly being used by commuters of all shapes and sizes on the cycle path parallel to Auckland’s Northwestern Motorway.

She wasn’t surprised by the increase in claims.

‘‘Accidents tend to happen three to five weeks after purchasing an e-bike,’’ Page said.

‘‘So the first week or two people are really cautious, the next week they are getting their bearings and by the fourth week they are flying as you would on a normal bicycle, but they don’t actually have the kinetic skills you would have if you had been riding your bike your whole life.’’

Page encouraged people returning to cycling to ride on a push bike for a month or two before investing in an electric bike to get used to cycling again.

‘‘I honestly think e-bikes are not the bike to learn on,’’ she said.

‘‘That said, for every person that does fall, there are a thousand people getting on bikes and cycling and getting the health and travel benefits, and the happiness, so it’s worth it.’’