All about bicycles, electric-assisted bikes, technology and safety in the press

The most common safety risks that we come across in our daily work around bicycle safety, technology and operating instructions are also published by us in articles in the leading German special-interest magazines TOUR (Europe's road bike magazine no. 1), BIKE (Europe's mountain bike magazine no. 1), MYBIKE and EMTB in order to make this information, which is important for the industry, available to a wider public.

For many years now, the Eurobike Show Daily, trade fair magazine of the annual Eurobike Show, has also given us the opportunity to publish our view of major developments in the cycle industry in full-page articles.

We also speak regularly in independent expert presentations about all areas of bicycle technology and the bicycle market. In addition, we are quoted by further special-interest magazines of the industry and the trade as well as increasingly by radio and television in their media reports, which shows us that we are spot on with our advice. The section "News" informs you about the latest news from our specialist areas. The reports and publications of this section are listed chronologically or according to areas of interest.

mobil & sicher – Verkehrswachtmagazin 2/2024
Reading time 1:30 minutes

Electric drive for kids

The focus is on e-bikes for children

Bicycles with electronic assistance are also available for young cyclists. In colloquial speech, so-called EPACs are also referred to as e-bikes.

(...)

But what about the safety of children on EPACs. After all, the electrically powered bikes can reach speeds of up to 25 km/h. E-bikes for kids and young people are geared to their needs. The assistance is by no means as high as in the case of normal e-bikes or can be adjusted via an app. Safety-conscious manufacturers already cut back the speed ex works.

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“Drive systems from renowned manufacturers recognise the rider's wishes very precisely and accelerate and decelerate as the rider wishes. Cheap ones don’t do that,” states graduate engineer Dirk Zedler, publicly appointed and sworn in expert for bicycles and electric bicycles (CCI Stuttgart).

(…)

As to the topic minimum age with e-bikes, Dirk Zedler states: “Fourteen years is a good age, as this is for good reason indicated as age for more sophisticated toys, such as faster RC cars etc. The crux of the matter is, of course, that it is difficult to make a generalised recommendation, as there are many factors to consider. Electric bikes are significantly heavier and can ride faster, which requires a certain level of fitness and skill. What’s the use of an e-bike uphill when the child can barely hold on to it, let alone brake?”

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According to engineer Dirk Zedler, it would be desirable to have very light drive systems that can be switched on when climbing and are not in the way otherwise. With smoother response behaviour, reduced power and range, the weight would also be dramatically reduced, making such bikes safer for everyone when riding a tour with parents.

(…)

Graduate engineer Dirk Zedler, loss adjustor and expert for bicycles and e-bikes:

“What already poses challenges for adults and therefore leads to accidents is even more dangerous in the hands of children.”

(…)

Author: Dr. Rita Bourauel

Read the entire article about the pros and cons of e-bikes for kids in mobil & sicher – Verkehrswachtmagazin 2/2024.

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