COMMERCE TWP. – A 13-year-old boy is in stable condition after reportedly getting hit by a car while riding an e-bike in Commerce Township.
According to the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred around 7:15 p.m. Monday night on Welch Road just north of E. West Maple Road. Deputies say while the investigation is ongoing, the driver was determined to not be at fault as the teen was entering and existing the roadway via a crosswalk.
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The boy was conscious and breathing at the scene and transported to Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak where he was listed as stable as of late Monday.
Residents in many communities have voiced growing concerns about the prevalence of e-bikes and the potential safety risks they bring.
Just last week, the Dearborn Heights City Council voted unanimously to ban the use of e-bikes on all city-owned property, citing a growing number of injuries and collisions involving children.
Michigan legalized the use of e-bikes statewide in 2017, creating a three-class system to define how they are regulated:
- Class 1: motor-assisted, can reach up to 20 miles per hour when pedaling
- Class 2: Can reach up to 20 miles per hour but also have a throttle to engage the motor without pedaling
- Class 3: Motor-assisted up to 28 miles per hour when pedaling
There is no minimum age requirement to ride a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike in Michigan, however you have to be at least 14 years old to ride a Class 3 e-bike.