E-bike accidents are on the rise. Here’s what to know

As e-bikes become more popular, accidents are also on the rise. According to the American College of Surgeons, more than 20,000 people nationwide are injured on the trendy bikes annually, with more than 3,000 requiring hospitalization. The most common injuries include head trauma and broken limbs, but there have also been fatalities.

Cape Cod has had several accidents recently. In October 2025, a young man in his 20s suffered extensive leg injuries after he collided with a guardrail while riding an e-bike in Hyannis. Also in Hyannis, a woman riding an e-scooter suffered a deep laceration on her chin after being struck by an SUV in a hit-and-run accident. Another hit-and-run occurred in Yarmouth in October when a black pickup truck struck a man riding an e-bike.

The most serious e-bike accident on Cape Cod occurred in September 2025, when a Brewster woman was hit from behind while walking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail in Harwich. The e-bike handlebar impaled her eye, causing her to lose sight in that eye.

Emergency physician Ryan Nichols, MD, has seen a few e-bike accident victims during his shifts at Cape Cod Hospital, but there haven’t been enough to call it a trend.

“In the summer months, you see people who fall off their scooters or fall off their bikes,” he said. “Sometimes they are riding e-bikes and the extra weight and the extra speed can certainly make them a potentially more dangerous injury.”

Nichols loves to ride bikes with his wife and sees all kinds of e-bikes on the Rail Trail, including those that pedal for you and others that look more like a motor scooter and go much faster. He cautions that anyone moving with speed – whether on a regular bike or an e-bike – can be seriously hurt in an accident. He also said that all bike riders need to be thoughtful and conscious of other users on the trail, because it’s not just for bikes. Many people, like the woman from Brewster, like to walk on the Rail Trail.

“The American College of Surgeons released a statement last June about e-bikes, which essentially said they should be classified based on their speed and their size,” Dr. Nichols said. “So it seems like that would be a reasonable framework to follow because I think when they are used responsibly, they’re a great thing to do. But if they’re not used responsibly, they can be really dangerous.”

Local Police are Becoming Educated

Harwich Police Chief Kevin Considine said that aside from the September accident, there have been no other serious accidents involving e-bikes in town. But because they have become more popular and present a possible danger, he gave his officers a handout with the definitions of the different types of e-bikes and the rules for each. The handout also offered the officers some enforcement advice with the different scenarios they might run into.

The categories and rules are exactly what the American College of Surgeons recommend. The categories are:

• E-bikes: They can only provide power up to 20 miles per hour. Any e-bike that travels more than 20 mph is not an e-bike. There are e-bikes labeled as Class 3 e-bikes that exceed 20 mph, but Massachusetts does not consider them to be e-bikes. They would be treated either as a moped or a motorized scooter. E-bikes are allowed on all bike lanes or trails as long as local law doesn’t forbid it. They should never be ridden on sidewalks, highways or any natural surface trail designed specifically for non-motorized bikes. No license or registration is required and e-bikes must follow all equipment and traffic laws that apply to regular bikes. Bike helmets must be worn by riders 16 and under, but Dr. Nichols recommends them for all riders.
• Mopeds: They are only allowed to operate up to 30 mph. If they exceed that speed, they are no longer considered a moped. Some have pedals and others do not. They are allowed to operate on all normal roads and all bike lanes adjacent to roads. They are never allowed to ride on sidewalks, highways or off-street recreational bike paths. Moped riders need a valid license or permit. They require a registration, license plate and decal. Motorcycle-compliant helmets must be worn and the maximum permissible speed is 25 mph.
• Motorized Scooter: Massachusetts deliberately made this a catch-all category to cover everything with two or three wheels that does not qualify as a e-bike, moped or motorcycle. They can ride on all normal roads, but never on sidewalks, highways, bike lanes or off-street recreational bike paths. A valid license or permit is required but not a registration. A motorcycle-compliant helmet must be worn and no passengers are allowed. The maximum speed is 20 mph and they can only be driven in the daytime.

Awareness and Enforcement

On May 4, 2026, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey filed legislation to strengthen regulations around e-bikes, scooters and mopeds. It builds on recommendations from a statewide commission created by Healey to address growing safety concerns.

“Parents and caregivers, especially, need to be aware of the dangers of e-bikes and the increase in crashes and major injuries last year,” Considine said. “Responsible ownership and riding are key, and knowing the laws is imperative for all to follow for safety.”

Considine believes that as long as people stay under the posted speed limit and are driving responsibly, e-bikes should be allowed.

Enforcement of the laws depends on the jurisdiction of the trails, he said. The state Department of Conservation and Recreation patrols and handles issues on the Rail Trail, while the Harwich section is handled by the police department.

“There is a posted speed limit of 15 mph on the Cape Cod Rail Trail,” Considine said. “These signs were put up a couple of years ago, as this is when they first began to see e-bike operation on the trails. They are allowed if they remain under 15 mph, however I do know they continue to have issues with e-bikes going over this speed.”