Rep. Andrea White Introduces Legislation to Increase Safety and Awareness for E-Bike Riders and Drivers

As warm weather hits Ohio, conversations are heating up about the surging use of electric bikes, electric motorcycles and other emerging types of vehicles appearing in communities around the state. To help ensure Ohio children, teens and adults stay injury free and aware of current laws and best-practice safety strategies, Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark) have introduced House Bill 948 in the Ohio House of Representatives.

"E-bikes and other types of electric vehicles that can go at higher speeds are on the radar of students, parents, law enforcement, cycling groups, children's hospitals, and community leaders at both the local, state and national levels," said Representative White. "First and foremost, everyone wants to stay safe. That means making sure our car and truck drivers and our electric bicycle riders all know the rules of the roads, crosswalks and sidewalks and how to navigate safely. We also need to figure out what communities want to control locally and where the state can best step in with education, support and standards."

"New technology and transportation trends can outpace public awareness and safety education," said Representative Miller, who previously served as an officer in the Ohio Highway Patrol prior to joining the legislature. "This legislation takes a proactive approach by helping ensure riders, drivers, parents, and communities all have clear information about how to safely share Ohio's roads. Our goal is to prevent injuries before they happen and support responsible use of these increasingly popular vehicles."

White said she initially worked with City of Oakwood Council Members Leigh Turben and Sam Dorf to help craft this bill through a balanced approach that will help get the word out through a statewide public awareness campaign, while tasking the Ohio Department of Public Safety to quickly study the types of vehicles now being used and any gaps or inconsistencies in our current laws that need addressed to best support our communities.

Along with the statewide public awareness and education campaign, HB 948 also includes the following key provisions to protect riders:

• Ensures all driver's education training includes instruction on sharing the roadway with pedestrians and operators of a bicycle and e-bicycle, including signals, right-of-way rules and passing protocols, and all driver examinations including testing knowledge of these laws.
• Requires all retail sellers of electric bicycles (including online and in person) to give the purchaser an electronic or printed copy of an educational leaflet or pamphlet created by the Department of Transportation.
• Tasks the Director of Public Safety with conducting a study and reporting findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature within 90 days exploring:
  • The types of e-bikes, motorized bicycles, mopeds, motor-driven cycles or scooters, off-highway motorcycles, motorcycles, and mini-bikes that are available for purchase at retail, the definitions and classifications for these vehicles in Ohio law and whether any changes are needed to accurately reflect the modern uses and operation of such vehicles;
  • The benefits and challenges of implementing additional statewide safety training or requirements for riders of Class 3 electric bicycles, off-highway motorcycles, and mini-bikes, with consideration to existing statutes and the governance of those vehicles by local authorities; and any other safety considerations for electric bicycle, off-highway motorcycle, and mini-bike operators.
    

"During my re-election campaign last fall, residents consistently voiced concerns about e-bike safety and the need for better education and accountability," said Oakwood Council Member Turben. "Working with Representative White, we recognized these concerns extended well beyond our community. We believe a statewide solution would provide the clarity, consistency, and educational framework needed to better protect Ohio families."

"E-bikes can be great for our communities - for the environment, for our region's health, and for getting people where they need to go," said Oakwood Council Member Dorf. "But that depends on riders and the public being safe and informed. Oakwood residents made clear that they want leaders to tackle this issue. A consistent statewide effort is an important first step toward providing the education and accountability families across Ohio deserve, and will help make sure e-bikes remain a positive part of how we get around."

Last August heading into Labor Day, Dayton Children's Hospital reported an 80% increase in the number of children receiving medical attention due to e-bike and e-scooter accidents, many involving collisions with cars and high speeds. By the end of 2025, e-bike and e-scooter injuries had doubled with 135 youth treated by the hospital, as compared to 67 in 2025. This year's statistics are rising even more sharply with 109 e-bike and e-scooter injuries already reported in youth served by Dayton Children's as of May 28, 2026.

On the national level, in November 2025, ScienceDirect reported on a study that estimated 15,121 pediatric patients in America experienced e-bike injuries with a sharp increase over a five-year period - with 4.18% occurring in 2019 and 49.8% in 2023. Injuries related to speed showed a higher incidence of head, neck, facial and internal organ injuries. The study highlighted the risks associated with speeds higher than 20 MPH on e-bikes and the need for targeted safety measures and legislation, especially related to prevention of head injuries.

"This legislation is a first step in getting a statewide conversation going to focus on targeted steps that will help our children and families stay safe. We look forward to continuing to hear more from students, parents, municipal leaders, law enforcement and health care professionals, and others as the bill receives hearings in the House Transportation Committee," said Representative White.

More information on e-bikes can currently be found on the Department of Transportation's website: https://www.transportation.ohio.gov/traveling/bicycling-and-pedestrians/resources/ebikes.