Nederland Police Chief Rod Carroll says his department has received plenty of complaints about e-bike riders, especially children speeding through intersections.
NEDERLAND, Texas — Electric bicycles are zipping through Southeast Texas neighborhoods, offering a cheaper and faster way to get around, but police and bike experts say riders aren’t always following the rules of the road.
Nederland Police Chief Rod Carroll says his department has received plenty of complaints about e-bike riders, especially children speeding through intersections without stopping.
“In the past few years, the e-bikes have become popular, mainly for children,” Carroll said. “With the speeds the bikes reach, I fear it could cause some serious injuries or collisions.”
Carroll noted that under Texas law, e-bikes are classified the same as traditional bicycles. “Make sure everybody acknowledges that e-bikes, the Texas Legislature has not kept up with technology, are the same as bicycles,” he said. “They have to stop at stop signs. They have to obey all laws that a vehicle would have to obey.”
Battery-powered e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, fast enough to cause major injuries in the event of a crash. “This could be a life-altering experience,” Carroll warned. “That’s probably my worst fear. That a child would hurt himself so severely that they’d have symptoms the rest of their life.”
Dayna Rothenberger, lead technician at Bicycle Sports, says e-bikes are becoming a practical replacement for cars. “They’re a great affordable way to get around,” she said. “We’ve had a lot of people that have decided to use e-bikes in lieu of a car just because of the savings.”
But Rothenberger emphasized that e-bike riders must share the road responsibly. “Bikes and cars are supposed to follow the same traffic rules,” she said. “There are a few little nuances here and there, but everybody’s supposed to ride on the same side of the road. The same road, same rules, same rights, and everybody needs to just be a little bit nicer about it.”
Both Carroll and Rothenberger agree that safe riding habits start at home. “You’re supposed to stop at stop signs, you’re supposed to stop at red lights,” Rothenberger said. “And if that isn’t taught at home, then who are we expecting to teach these things?”
For now, Chief Carroll says there are no specific state regulations for e-bikes, something he fears could lead to more problems down the road.