If you're planning on cruising around town on an electric bike anytime soon — whether on a rental or one of the best e-bikes in 2024 — you may want to think twice before doing so sans helmet.
Reports of head trauma and other injuries resulting from e-bike accidents are through the roof, according to newly published research (first reported on by NPR). Even worse, many of those injuries were at least partially avoidable — helmet use on e-bikes declined a disappointing amount during that same period.
E-bike-related hospital visits are up
Between 2017 and 2022, helmet use by e-bike enthusiasts in the US declined by 6%, according to a research letter titled "Electric Bicycle Injuries and Hospitalizations," published last week on the JAMA Network.
During that same period, the number of recorded e-bike riders seeking medical attention for head trauma increased nearly 50-fold to just shy of 8,000 visits in 2022.
The same research notes that 44% of injured riders wore helmets. The other 66%, or roughly 5,300 people, did not. Statistically speaking, going helmet-less on an e-bike nearly doubles your odds of head trauma compared to wearing one, the study notes.
E-bike are bigger, faster, heavier than road bikes
Compared to most road and commuter bikes, e-bikes tend to be larger, heavier, and travel at consistently faster speeds. Fortunately, whether you're zipping around on a purely pedal-powered device or one with electronic assistance, there's a simple way to keep your noggin a little bit safer: Wear a bike helmet.
Need some guidance? We've got you covered. Check out our epic buying guide on all the best bike helmets available right now, including trendy opinions that look great and feature the latest safety tech. Or, if you're in a rush, find three of my favorite helmets for e-bike enthusiasts below.
