Electric Bike Safety

Electric bikes are a fun, sustainable and convenient way to travel. E-bikes are becoming increasingly popular as more and more commuters are ditching their cars, avoiding public transport and are taking to the roads and cycle paths with their eBikes instead. Electric bikes are here to stay and are the future of travel, but before you saddle up, we have put together some e-bike safety tips to ensure that you start your electric bike journey as safely as possible.

Always wear a helmet

This seems like such an obvious tip, doesn't it? But it's vitally important to highlight this point. Unfortunately accidents can and will happen, it may not be your fault, but if you do have the misfortune to come off your bike, a helmet will help to mitigate any head injuries. E-bikes can go a little faster than a manual bike, which is why we recommend you wear a helmet which is eBike certified to NTA-8776 specification, like the popular Limar Urbe e-bike helmets. Helmets have come a long way, and are no longer unstylish and bulky, with new fashionable sleek designs which combine safety with style. Did you know the world's safest helmet isn't even a helmet? Take a look at the innovative Hovding Airbag helmet which isn't even worn on your head.

Let's get visible

It goes without saying that you should ensure that your electric bike has a front and rear light, and with the introduction of led's, modern bike lights are very small and unobtrusive, but spectacularly bright. Making yourself seen, and heard is very important in modern day cycling as we find the roads are getting more and more congested with cars. Wear some hi visibility clothing, or attach high visibility strips to your clothing and e-bike. Let's make some noise! Being visible, also means being heard so attach a bell or horn to let others know that you are approaching or passing.

Be aware of others

Ride cautiously, always be on the lookout for pedestrians or other road users. Signal to let others know that you are turning, it's quite easy to just get carried away with the enjoyment of the ride, but to avoid any confusion with other road users, let them know your next move. Cars are everywhere, so a great tip is to always think that the driver of the vehicle cannot see you. Be extra careful at junctions and roundabouts, don't ever second guess where the car is going, some drivers don't indicate so be patient and wait for any potential hazards to pass. Be wary of parked cars also, a door swinging open in front of you or the car abruptly pulling out could cause a serious accident. Alert pedestrians that you are approaching by ringing your bell or sounding your horn and saying "On your left" or "On your right", leave enough distance as to not scare them.

Road conditions

Judge the road ahead, potholes and uneven cracked roads can be damaging to e-bike wheels. Try to avoid these where possible, or use an electric bike with thicker tyres. Loose stones and gravel on roads could cause loss of control, especially when cornering. If this happens lightly use the brakes to negate overly skidding. In the rain and in wet conditions, always take more caution and ride slower. Apply the brakes a lighter to avoid skidding and keep in mind that your brakes may be a little weaker as the pads will be wet. Snowy and Icy conditions are dangerous and should be avoided.

Make sure you have the right sized e-bike

Riding an e-bike which is not the right size for you has many major drawbacks. If your electric bike is too small, you will feel uncomfortable and not have control of your e-bike, as you will not have the right balance. An eBike which is too large will be dangerous as you would not be able to steady the electric bike when you come to a stand still. If you don't know which size e-bike is right for you, we have put together an E-Bike Buying Guide to help you out.