Choosing the right pedelec is an important safety factor
Using a pedelec has become a highly popular way to get around. In 2024, the number of e-bikes in Germany, for example, increased by a further 2.1 million to 15.7 million vehicles, according to figures from the German Bicycle Industry Association (ZIV). But as the number of pedelec road users grows, so does the number of accidents they’re involved in. Older people in particular often get caught up in accidents, and because of their age, they suffer more serious injuries on average than younger riders. The accident researchers at DEKRA explain what e-bike users can do to get to their destination safely.
Good to go on a pedelec? Before anything else, ask yourself: have you mastered riding a pedelec yet? Experienced riders can usually just hop on and ride if the handlebars and saddle height are correctly adjusted. For occasional riders and beginners, it’s best to practice handling the fast, heavy pedelec somewhere away from busy roads. Consider whether you’ve mastered the basics, such as setting off, stopping, cornering and slalom riding, heavy braking, swerving, one-handed steering and indicating, or whether you need more practice. It is also important to practice riding safely in wet conditions and on gravel roads.
How about a safety course? If you don’t feel confident riding a pedelec or just want to improve your riding style, you can take a rider safety training course and under qualified supervision practice the key techniques for riding safely. Besides the practical training element, these courses also usually give tips on how to avoid accidents, anticipatory riding, using the battery, and how to adjust the bike.
Choosing the right pedelec. Your choice of pedelec is one factor in how safe you are when riding your e-bike. A smaller, more compact model is easier to handle, low entry bikes are easier to get on and off, and bikes with a low center of gravity are easier to balance while stationary. If there’s no urgent reason to choose the e-bike with the strongest motor, consider a slightly smaller model with a correspondingly sized battery. This can save weight and improve handling.
Visibility provides safety. For safe riding, the experts at DEKRA also recommend wearing a helmet at all times, including on short trips, and keeping your two-wheeled vehicle in good condition. In fall, it is especially important that your lights function properly. Other road users are more likely to spot you if you wear high-visibility retro-reflective clothing, such as a neon- colored cape. And using daytime running lights can also make you more visible on the road.