Tag Archive: USA

  1. Is the e-bike safety debate overshadowing larger road risks in the US?

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    Source: Electrek

    There has been increasing public concern over electric bicycles and other light electric vehicles in the USA. Electrek agrees that although micromobility safety does need to be addressed and improved, it highlights that cars are the most dominant threat to road safety.

    Reports of reckless riding, teenage riders performing dangerous stunts and accidents involving high-powered e-bikes have raised public and media concerns about safety on the road. Critics argue that another issue is the sale of vehicles that blur the line between bicycles and motorcycles, which are used by riders travelling at speeds beyond their abilities.

    Road safety: e-bikes and cars

    There are questions about whether the level of attention directed at e-bikes is proportionate to the broader dangers on American roads. Recent figures cited in media reports suggest that e-bike and e-scooter incidents have accounted for approximately 135 deaths annually in the US. Meanwhile, cars are linked to around 7,000 pedestrian deaths each year and more than 40,000 total roadway fatalities annually.

    It has been argued that the focus on e-bikes risks being a distraction from the larger safety issue posed by motor vehicles, such as cars, large SUVs and trucks. It is thought that micromobility is being more heavily scrutinised in America because they are newer forms of transport that appear unfamiliar or disruptive, as opposed to cars, which have been on the roads for decades.

    Calls for balanced regulation

    It is acknowledged by Electrek that although e-bike can be considered as safer than cars, the industry does require improvements, such as stronger regulation of high-speed electric motorcycles marketed as bicycles, better rider education, and enforcement against reckless behaviour.

    Improved support for cycling can lower road fatality rates

    Equally, it is argued that e-bikes could contribute to safer roads overall if they replace short car journeys.

    Research from countries with established cycling infrastructure has shown that increased bicycle use can coincide with lower transport fatality rates.

    It is strongly advised that policymakers should focus not only on regulating e-bikes, but also on redesigning roads, improving cycling infrastructure, and addressing the wider risks posed by car-dependent transport systems.

  2. Americans’ healthcare funds may be used towards e-bike purchases

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    Source: Electrek

    Eligible citizens in the USA may be able to take advantage of a system where they can use their pre-tax healthcare funds to help purchase an electric bike, potentially saving up to 30% of the purchase price.

    Americans can set aside pre-tax money in Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), which can be spent on qualified medical and wellness expenses. Typically these may include doctor visits or prescriptions, but in some cases, an e-bike may be viewed as a qualifying item.

    To be able to use their HSA and/or FSA funds towards the purchase of an e-bike, people would need documentation from a healthcare provider such as a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN), explaining how an e-bike would be beneficial in the management of a specific condition. This could address issues related to a diverse range of health problems including mobility limitations, cardiovascular health, arthritis, and others where the introduction of a low-impact physical activity will be advantageous.

    The ability of pedal-assist e-bikes to enable people to exercise with consistency, while reducing excess strain which might otherwise prevent people from engaging in active exercise, is well recognised, especially for an older demographic. E-bikes can help people maintain mobility in later life, as well as seeing improved cardiovascular health, managing joint pain, and replacing sedentary car trips with moderate physical activity.

    Healthcare providers are already keen to encourage preventative exercise, helping to avoid the associated costs of treating chronic illnesses further down the line. Providing easier access to e-bikes through the use of tax-free healthcare funds is a way to kick-start such preventative activity.

  3. Partial US tariff relief for the e-bike industry

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    Sources: Electrek, Al Circle

    After a concerted period of advocacy by bike-industry interest group PeopleForBikes, it was recently confirmed by the US White House that e-bikes, bikes and frames will not be subject to new tariffs on steel and aluminium, while some pre-existing tariffs on these materials are being removed altogether.

    It had been proposed last year to apply tariffs of up to 50% on the steel and aluminium content of standard and electric bikes, which would have had serious financial and practical implications for companies in the industry, with complex calculations on the exact metal composition of imported bikes and frames required, alongside the additional expense which would likely have been passed on to end users in an already expensive consumer-product market segment.

    PeopleForBikes mobilised numerous players in the e-bike and bike industry, to deliver a coordinated pushback against the proposed application of these tariffs. Over 1,300 public comments were submitted against their implementation, while PeopleForBikes also consulted with Congress members and senior figures at the Department of Commerce to emphasise the potential economic damage to the industry.

    The action went a step further, with the broader “inclusion request” process also being scrapped; this could have added e-bikes and bikes to the tariff list in the future, giving added reassurance to the sector. It should be noted that tariff duties continue to apply to component items such as steel chains, bearings and other assorted hardware and hand tools.

    PeopleForBikes CEO and President, Jenn Dice, said, “This is a clear example of what happens when our industry shows up together. We’re incredibly grateful to the manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and riders who stepped up and made their voices heard. We also want to recognize the hundreds of companies and leaders who took action, writing letters, submitting comments, and sharing their stories. This win belongs to the entire industry.”

    Electrek journalist Micah Toll highlights that “This is also a reminder that e-bikes are no longer a niche category. The fact that the industry could mobilize that level of response and get the attention of policymakers shows just how important micromobility has become in the broader transportation landscape. For now, at least, that’s one less headwind for an industry that’s still trying to make car-free transportation more accessible.”

  4. National US e-bike regulations on the horizon

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    Source: Electrek

    A new bill has been introduced to the US Congress, which could introduce a nationwide, federal framework for the regulation of electric bikes and other micromobility devices, rather than the patchwork of state-level specific e-bike regulations.

    Introduced by a bipartisan group of Representatives from both the Democratic and Republican parties, the bill has been dubbed the Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act, or the Safe SPEEDS Act. Its aim is to provide the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) with the authority to classify and regulate e-bikes and larger electric two-wheelers known as e-motos, as well as other similar devices. The CPSC would also be directed to create standardised labelling requirements and minimum rider age recommendations. Additionally, the CPSC would be required to research and publish data on crashes, injuries and fatalities involving these devices, which is currently inconsistent across jurisdictions.

    E-bikes have seen a rapid rise across the US over the last few years, but there has been little change to federal standards since 2002, at which point they were considered as consumer products, rather than motor vehicles. This has resulted in a confusing and inconsistent scenario for consumers, and legislations which differ from state to state.

    The news closely follows earlier reports that various US state-level lawmakers have been pushing for the application of license plates to e-bikes, in an effort to tackle problematic riding behaviour, though critics have stated that such a move may hamper efforts to move transportation to more sustainable options than cars.

    The Safe SPEEDS act has been vocally support from a variety of industry and safety groups such as PeopleForBikes and the National Bicycle Dealers Association, with concerns about higher-speed vehicles being marketed alongside e-bikes to the fore. Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes, said, “PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders.”

  5. More Americans using shared micromobility due to rising fuel costs, study finds

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    Source: Zag Daily, Air Quality News Image credit: Air Quality News

    From a survey of over 2,248 riders across 60 US markets, 68% said that they have replaced car journeys with shared scooter or bike trips in the previous 30 days due to higher petrol prices.

    For the first time in four years, the USA’s average petrol price exceeded $4 per gallon, due to the ongoing Iran war continuing to pressurise global fuel markets.

    The AAA has reported that between February 26 and March 26, the average regular petrol price rose by approximately $1.

    Study showing the rising fuel costs on shared micromobility usage

    Against the context of the recent rise in fuel costs, shared micromobility operator Veo recently conducted a study on how much it has influenced micromobility uptake by surveying over 2,200 riders.

    From respondents who have access to or own a car, 68% said that due to the higher petrol prices from the previous 30 days, that they have used shared scooter or bike rides instead of car trips.

    The survey also reveals that approximately 73% of these riders which have car access, stated that micromobility trips are cheaper than driving when petrol prices are high, with them being described as a “much cheaper” option by over 40% of respondents.

    It revealed that the highest share of respondents stated that the $4-per-gallon mark as being the price that sways them to choose using a bike or scooter instead of a car.

    Meanwhile, the survey indicated why 831 respondents (over a third of the total) don’t have access to, or own a car, with the number one reason being cited as affordability.

    One respondent noted the integration of shared mobility and public transportation as being beneficial to their travel needs:
    “Trains, buses and Veos will take you a long way literally.”

    With fuel prices continuing to rise in not just the USA but all over the world, this latest survey emphasises that cost is playing a key role in encouraging more citizens to use the more sustainable transportation mode of shared micromobility instead of cars.

  6. Safety concerns prompt California school district to consider student e-bike bans

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    Source: Electrek

    Safety concerns are at the heart of potential e-bike restrictions under consideration by a southern California school district, with an age-based limit to determine which students would be allowed to travel to school on power-assisted bikes. The restrictions are in contrast to other US areas where an educative approach is favoured.

    The proposal under examination by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District would effectively ban large numbers of school students from riding e-bikes to school, with a range of restrictions based on their school-grade year. From kindergarten through to sixth grade (in which students are typically 11-12 years old), there would be a total prohibition on them riding e-bikes. Seventh- and eighth-graders (typically 12-14 years old) would also be subject to this prohibition, unless granted written permission by their parents/guardians. Older students of high school age would be mainly unaffected.

    Reasoning for the proposed ban

    Data has been referenced by the school district from the nearby Costa Mesa area, in which e-bike riders were found to be at fault in 44% of 126 recorded bicycle accidents. It is also noted that the Newport Beach area recently implemented strict local regulations, including fines and possible impounding of e-bikes in cases where rules are violated.

    Newport-Mesa district officials say their proposal is aimed at reducing risk, while allowing some flexibility for families, against a backdrop of increasing popularity of e-bikes as a practical mode of independent travel for students.

    An alternative approach

    Oregon has taken a contrasting position to the outright ban approach, recognising that e-bikes are an inevitable part of the mobility mix, and that early familiarisation with riding them is a preferable path. A key part of a new proposal, House Bill 4007, is lowering the legal riding age from 16 to 14, for Class 1 e-bikes (and e-scooters), capped at 20 mph (32 km/h), with a helmet requirement for any under-16 riders.

    The current Oregon law is so restrictive towards e-bikes, that schools cannot legally teach e-bike safety to younger students – effectively leaving a knowledge gap, and expecting children to be able to handle an e-bike safely on their 16th birthday. With earlier e-bike use made legal, a structured education program and school-based training can be implemented, giving both children and their families clearer guidance on safe e-bike riding, before the developing of bad habits.

    “There are a lot of kids excited about these bikes and we want to facilitate using them safely, and now there’s not a lot of clarity in the market to help families make good decisions,” explained political consultant Jake Weigler to Bike Portland.

  7. Chicago reports record shared bike and scooter trips in 2025

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    Source: SmartCitiesWorld

    The US city has reported its highest-ever annual ridership on shared bikes and scooters, with residents taking 12.9 million trips in 2025, marking nearly two million more journeys than the previous year. These latest figures reflect a rising demand for convenient, affordable transportation options, alongside continued citywide investment in shared micromobility and cycling infrastructure in the region.

    The record follows strong ridership in 2024 and highlights Chicago’s expanding access to active transportation as part of its broader sustainability and mobility goals.

    Both of the city’s shared bike and scooter operators reported record usage, with Divvy recording 6.8 million e-bike and e-scooter trips, and 6.1 million rides being made with Lime e-scooters. The combination of both figures reveal an overall 12.9 million shared mobility trips in Chicago.

    Mayor Brandon Johnson linked the milestone to the city’s environmental and connectivity priorities. “Chicago’s record-breaking ridership on shared bikes and scooters demonstrates our collective commitment to building a greener, healthier, and more connected city,” he said.

    He added: “By expanding Divvy stations, creating protected bike lanes, and investing in infrastructure that serves all modes of transportation, we’re expanding access to active transportation while building a Chicago that prioritises sustainability, equity, and opportunity for all.”

    Discounted memberships, capped e-bike pricing and equity programmes such as Divvy for Everyone and Lime Access also helped support continued ridership growth as Chicago works toward a safer, more connected bike network serving all 77 community areas.

    Infrastructure growth and city investment

    The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDoT) has continued to expand the city’s micromobility network. Acting commissioner Craig Turner emphasised the department’s responsibility for safe streets.

    “CDoT is the guardian of the public way, and our teams work every day to ensure our streets work safely for everyone,” Turner said. “By expanding our bike network and implementing safety upgrades citywide, we are giving residents the infrastructure they need to choose the transportation option that works best for them.”

    In 2025, CDoT added 140 new Divvy stations with more than 2,000 new docks. The department also expanded in-station charging for the operator’s e-bikes and e-scooters, improving availability while reducing manual battery swapping and lowering operational vehicle trips.

    Chicago invested more than $3 million (approximately €2.5 million million) into Divvy, including subsidies to make the service more affordable for residents.

    Operator highlights momentum across the city

    Lyft, which operates Divvy, said the milestone reflects growing year-round adoption. “Lyft is proud to operate Divvy as Chicago reaches this incredible milestone. We saw riders continue to embrace Divvy across all seasons, from winter commutes to summer lakefront trips, and across all neighbourhoods in unprecedented numbers. That momentum tells us we’re on the right track. Lyft is invested in Chicago, ready to keep building a reliable system that works for users across the whole city.”

    Safety and equity measures support ridership growth

    In response to scooter safety and accessibility concerns, Chicago introduced sidewalk riding detection technology and upgraded parking compliance requirements. The city also installed more than 1,000 new bike racks and dozens of bike corrals.

    “This record-breaking year for bike and scooter ridership shows how essential micromobility has become for Chicago’s residents and visitors,” said BACP commissioner Ivan Capifali. “As the City’s business licensing department, BACP continues to partner closely with the companies to ensure operations are safe, compliant and consumer focused. We’re proud to explore and support transportation options that keep our city moving.”

  8. US cities embracing new mobility era, according to Lime

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    Source: Lime

    From studying 5 million Lime trips in Baltimore, Nashville and Phoenix, the LEVA-EU member has published recommendations on building better and safer streets. It published the 2nd edition of its annual mobility report in collaboration with the League of American Bicyclists, with findings encouraging the implementation of bike lanes and safer infrastructure.

    After using shared micromobility data to research how people travel, Lime states that US cities are in a new era of sustainable transportation which requires safer and more connected streets. The shared mobility company says its study supports global findings, implying that more people choose micromobility when there are dedicated cycling lanes with thoughtfully designed safe infrastructure.

    Results from the mobility report presents the following takeaways:

    Riders prefer dedicated cycling lanes

    • In Baltimore, newly installed cycling lanes have been associated with increasing 20% of Lime trips, when compared to streets without them.
    • In Nashville, streets equipped with cycling lanes saw trips grow faster by 39% than similar streets without bike cycling infrastructure.
    • In Phoenix, protected lanes experienced a 35% increase in ridership in comparison to without the dedicated infrastructure.

    Infrastructure encourages safety

    • For all cities studied, streets with dedicated cycling infrastructure had lower incident rates consistently, than those without them.

    Transit and connectivity are expanded by micromobility

    • Lime effectively doubled the transit walkshed from 0.8 km by walking alone to 1.77–2.09 km, increasing access to high-quality transit and providing connections for riders’ daily commutes.

    Bill Nesper, Executive Director of the League of American Bicyclists shared the following about the report:

    “Like last year’s findings, the insights in this report help to demonstrate exactly why communities must continue to make these investments: we can see very clearly that building better infrastructure, and establishing policies to support that infrastructure, has real-world results in helping more people to safely make trips on two wheels.”

    Study implications for US cities

    For reducing congestion, improving safety and expanding equitable transportation options, it advises the following:

    • Investing in dedicated cycling lanes to encourage more ridership, encouraging quick rider responses.
    • Prioritising safety: Creating dedicated cycling infrastructure for bikes and micromobility helps to reduce incident rate by encouraging rider confidence.
    • Boosting transit access: Micromobility completes significant “first mile/last mile” gaps, supporting people to move more freely.
    • Using data for guiding investment: Facilitating micromobility expertise and analytics to pinpoint new lanes and parking solutions which can deliver the most effective impact.

    Lime’s and the League of American Bicyclists’ latest study shows how micromobility and cycling infrastructure can reduce traffic volumes and decrease the time and economic value that’s regularly lost to congestion.

    Brandon Haydu, Lime’s Senior Program Manager, Transportation Policy & Analytics stated the following about the findings:

    “Lime’s data provides cities with a powerful tool to strengthen transportation planning and Vision Zero efforts beyond what is possible using traditional bicycle trip counts. Our partnership with the League of American Bicyclists shows that when cities build dedicated bike lanes, ridership grows, safety improves, and riders from across the city benefit. We’re happy to collaborate with the cities we serve, sharing detailed, standardized data and planning support to help build safer, more connected streets for everyone.”

    Lime will be sharing its report with transportation leaders, urban planners, policymakers and local advocates to inspire safer, greener and more accessible cities.

  9. Micromobility is replacing car use in the USA, study shows

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    Source: Zag Daily

    A report which draws on nationwide surveys, information from focus groups, and wider industry research, presents strong evidence that shared micromobility modes are replacing car trips in the United States, and urges for the removal of barriers to access.

    The Mode Shift report, published by shared micromobility operator Veo, examines the factors behind uptake of shared micromobility options including e-scooters, e-bikes, and seated scooters. Alexander Keating, Veo’s Vice President of Policy and Partnerships, said, “Mode shift means people choosing not to take a car trip, even just once a week, because micromobility is conveniently available. Most journeys in the US are under three miles and are therefore exactly the trips that bikes and scooters are well suited to replace.”

    The report also looks beyond commuting at the shorter everyday journeys which are well-suited for car replacement, such as errands and social journeys. Alex continues, saying, “We’re not talking about scrapping cars entirely. Some trips will always require them, but many don’t. Micromobility allows people to leave the car at home more often.” For many micromobility users, however, the transport mode provides a way to avoid the costs of car ownership while still enjoying easy access to work and everyday activities.

    Key findings in the report

    • 40% of Veo riders do not own a car.
    • 28% do not hold a driver’s licence.
    • Many users live in outer boroughs and lower-income areas of major cities, and use shared mobility to as first- or last-mile connections to public transport.
    • 60% of riders are from households with an income under $50,000 per year.

    Barriers to access

    The report identifies four key barriers to wider access:

    • Disconnected infrastructure: “A bike lane here and there isn’t enough. People need safe, continuous routes from start to finish.”
    • Service restrictions such as geofencing and fragmented service areas which don’t match up with natural travel patterns.
    • Affordability and lack of potential users’ knowledge about existing discount schemes.
    • A lack of vehicle diversity – most current fleets are designed for solo travellers, eliminating families or those carrying loads such as shopping. The report argues for broader inclusion of cargo bikes, trikes and adaptive options into fleets to better compete with cars for more trips.