Lawmakers race to update e-bike law
Crashes, injuries, deaths mount as electric devices increase in popularity
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As accidents, injuries and fatalities tied to e-bikes and e-scooters add up, lawmakers are increasingly looking to make changes to better protect riders and others.
Monday, a Senate committee discussed strategies to respond to the problem. That same morning, a woman on an e-bike in Delaware County had to be rescued by passersby after she was trapped under a car after a collision.
Wednesday, two juveniles were hospitalized with what police described as "moderate" injuries after the e-bike they were riding on collided with a vehicle in Erie. And in August, a 12-year-old boy was killed in an e-bike crash in York County.
Those accidents are part of a pattern statewide that has caught the attention of law enforcement, local officials and increasingly, lawmakers.
There have been at least five fatal e-bike and e-scooter crashes just in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to local reports. Police in Allentown have counted 58 crashes involving e-bikes or scooters, injuring 40 people, thus far in 2026.
A 2025 e-scooter accident claimed the life of Abigail Gillon, a 12-year-old girl in Delaware County, prompting lawmakers to introduce Senate Bill 1008, Abby's Law.
The legislation would ban juveniles under 16 from riding e-bikes, mandate helmet use for minors and require that riders follow the rules of the road.
SB 1008 would also authorize municipalities to enact ordinances setting penalties for illegal use of e-bikes, capping the fines at $250.
Thursday, Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-Luzerne, announced he plans to introduce legislation that would set tougher penalties for illegal use of e-bikes.
"Riders of pedalcycles, pedalcycles with electric assist and motorized pedalcycles are required to equip the cycles with safety equipment, such as a white front light and reflectors, to ensure riders are clearly visible at all times," Pashinski said in a memo seeking support for the bill. "However, even if enforced, the current provisions only provide for a $10 fine."
Pashinski did not specify how much he would like to see the penalty increased, but said the change is necessary to get more e-bike and e-scooter rides to comply with the law.
E-bike legislation in other states
New Jersey in July implemented strict new e-bike requirements, including mandating that riders must be licensed and e-bikes must be registered. If the e-bike can travel faster than 20 mph, it must also be covered by liability insurance.
New e-bike rules went into effect in Tennessee on July 1, raising the age to operate an e-bike from 14 to 16 and authorizing local officials to bar e-bikes from bicycle lanes.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation in August that requires the Department of Education in that state to develop an e-bike safety curriculum for students in grades 7-12 by 2028. Under the law, if school districts allow students to ride e-bikes to school, the district must also require that those students take the safety class.