We received a press release from the Bermuda Police Service that caught my attention. According to the police, during road policing enforcement last Friday, officers stopped a 14-year-old boy riding an e-bike at 70 kilometres per hour. Yes, 70 kilometres per hour, twice Bermuda’s maximum general speed limit of 35.
To be honest, I didn’t even know these bikes could go that fast.
But on a serious note, this is extremely concerning. We’ve spent years talking about the dangers on Bermuda’s roads, the lives we’ve lost and the responsibility of road users. Now we’re talking about a 14-year-old being able to ride something capable of reaching 70 kilometres per hour on a public road.
Yes, parents and guardians need to know what their children are riding. If you’re purchasing an e-bike for your child, you should understand what it’s capable of and make sure they’re using it responsibly. But I don’t think the conversation should stop with parents.
Where’s the legislation?
If a 14-year-old can legally have access to something capable of traveling at those speeds, then I think we’re behind yet again. A teenager has to wait until they’re 16 and meet certain requirements before they can legally ride a 50cc motorbike on our roads. Yet we’re now learning that a younger child can potentially have access to an e-bike capable of traveling even faster.
That doesn’t make much sense to me.
Thankfully, in this situation, the police were able to stop the rider. We’re talking about a 14-year-old traveling at 70 kilometres per hour. One mistake, one pothole, one vehicle pulling out, one person crossing the road and this conversation could’ve been very different.
Maybe we need age restrictions. Maybe certain e-bikes capable of reaching particular speeds should be classified differently. Maybe they should require registration, insurance or a license. I don’t know what the answer is, but allowing something capable of traveling at 70 kilometres per hour to be treated like an ordinary bicycle doesn’t seem like the answer either.
We’ve spoken enough about reacting after tragedies on Bermuda’s roads. Here’s an opportunity to act before one happens.
