Column: Foley On E-Bikes, Road Safety & More
[Opinion column written by OBA's Maurice Foley]
A 71-year-old woman was recently struck by a 15-year-old riding an e-bike while walking on a pedestrian crossing in Hamilton. Thankfully, her injuries were not life-threatening.
But this accident isn’t just another headline we read and move on from. It’s something that should make us pause and think about where we are as a community because this could have been much worse.
As more young people get access to powerful electric bikes, I find myself asking a simple but important question: are we truly preparing them for what they’re taking on? I don’t think we are.
This isn’t about pointing fingers at one teenager. It’s not about blaming parents or calling for bans. E-bikes have become part of everyday life here, and for many people they’re a practical, affordable way to get around. When used responsibly, they’re a good thing.
But we cannot ignore the obvious.
These bikes are faster than many people realize. And while the technology has moved forward quickly, our understanding, our conversations, and our preparation haven’t kept up.
I think about these young riders. Many of them have never been taught the proper road rules. They haven’t had to think about stopping distances, blind spots, or how quickly a situation can change at an intersection. They’re learning as they go, without realizing the risks they’re taking.
And I think about parents too. Many are doing their best, believing they’re giving their child something similar to a bicycle, just with a bit of boost. But some of these bikes are far more powerful than that. They require judgment, awareness, and maturity that doesn’t always come naturally at a young age. This is where we need to come together as a community.
We need to talk more openly about what it really means to ride one of these bikes. We need to make sure young riders understand not just how to ride, but how to share the road safely—with pedestrians and drivers alike. That kind of awareness doesn’t just happen. It must be taught, encouraged, and reinforced.
Retailers can play a role by being honest about what these bikes can do. Schools and community groups can help start conversations early. Government also has a responsibility—not only to modernize the law, but to educate the public and provide the information needed to make informed decisions. Road safety should be something we invest in before something goes wrong, not after.
At the same time, we can’t ignore the bigger picture. Our laws need to reflect the reality we’re living in now. Not all e-bikes are the same, and we should recognize that. There’s a difference between gently assists pedalling and significantly boosting speed.
There are also harder questions we need to be willing to face. If someone has lost their driver’s licence because they were considered unsafe to operate a motor vehicle, should they be able to operate a powerful e-bike without any similar consideration? It’s not an easy conversation, but it’s one we shouldn’t avoid if public safety is our priority.
At the end of the day, this isn’t about making life harder for anyone. It’s about protecting each other.
It’s about making sure that when we step onto a crossing, ride a bike, or drive down the road, we can trust that everyone around us understands the responsibility they carry.
This recent incident with the senior shouldn’t fade from our memories. It should stay with us as a reminder that more needs to be done.
Because if we don’t take this seriously now, we may find ourselves facing something far more painful later. And none of us want to look back and wonder if we could have done more.
- Maurice Foley is the Co-Deputy Chair of the One Bermuda Alliance
Read More About
Category: Accidents and fires, All
