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E-bike sales up sharply over five years, and so are the injuries

Thursday, 27 January 2022

Frank Witowski is sitting pretty after winning a national award for his small business, Hybrid Bikes.

E-bike-related injuries have risen by more than 700 per cent over the last five years – but the figures appear to be more a sign of booming popularity of battery-powered bicycles than increased danger on the roads.

There were 1412 e-bike injury claims in 2021, up from just 167 in 2016, according to figures from ACC.

That increase comes as e-bikes become more and more popular, with a sharp rise in numbers entering the country despite ongoing supply chain issues.

E-bikes and e-scooters are counted together in Stats NZ import data and have grown rapidly in recent years.

Electric bike imports hit an all-time high in 2021.
Electric bike imports hit an all-time high in 2021.

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About 75,000 units were imported in 2021, up from 23,000 in 2017. The growth suggests they could overtake new passenger car sales within the next few years.

There were 112,226 new passenger cars registered in New Zealand last year, though this figure does not include second-hand imports.

Total cycling-related injuries dropped slightly over the past year, from more than 42,000 in 2020 to about 40,000 in 2021.

Clare Markham is among many employees who took advantage of the Government
Clare Markham is among many employees who took advantage of the Government's e-bike subsidy scheme. (File photo)

Despite the injury rates, ACC is actively encouraging more people to ride e-bikes for commuting, recreating and sport.

“We like the fact that people are riding bikes, bike riding provides many health benefits, good for the environment and everything like that,” ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker​ said. “We just want people to do it safely.”

Light tissue injuries and fractures were some of the most commonly seen cycling injuries.

The biggest increase in injuries is among people aged 60 to 69, with claims increasing from fewer than 50 in 2017 to 453 last year – an increase of 860 per cent.

“There's a lot older New Zealanders getting injured while on e-bikes… a lot of people aged 60 and above are still really active, and they like to get out there and do things that make them happy,” Whitaker said.

Part of the reason for the increase in injuries was due to the fact that e-bikes could go about 30 kilometres an hour without much effort, Whitaker said.

Patrick Morgan is an advocate with Cycling Action Network and an instructor with the adult cycling training programme Pedal Ready. He said he has seen the older generation, many of whom hadn’t been in the saddle in decades, flocking to e-bikes.

“Biking [is] the new golf. People in their 60s plus used to be happy puttering around a golf course, but now they lead more active lives because health is better longer,” Morgan said.

“When people come to the course, it’s typical to hear someone say they haven’t been on a bike in decades, a bit nervous, and they want to improve their skills on trails and the street.”

He encouraged new riders to practise in a level, quiet and traffic-free area, and to plan their journey around routes where there isn’t much traffic or other potential risks.

By the numbers