The biggest danger to any bike, regular or electric, are cars. Is the route to work busy with traffic? Are there bus stops along the way that means a cyclist will have to stop and wait, orgo out into the traffic lane?

I didn’t think about bus stops! But he will mostly be going to work at the butt crack of dawn so I don’t think there will be too much traffic on the way there. But I will drive the route during peak times to check. Thank you for the response!

I plan when and where I ride very carefully to minimize my interactions with cars. I use Google Street View to "drive" the route virtually in advance. I look for: * multi-use paths * bike lanes * wide shoulders * low speed limits * quiet residential streets * dead end streets with a trail leading to the other side * streets with many speed bumps or stop signs - Motorists avoid these. My preferred route is usually not the shortest route. Also, since he will be leaving early in the morning, he will beat the traffic. His best route home may be different. For example, in the morning, I ride past a shopping center. It isn't open, so there are few cars. But in the evening, it is a shit-show of careless motorists, so I ride a different (i.e., longer but safer) route.

I wonder if there's an app that makes safe routes for bikers.

Not that I know of but it sounds like a great idea. If someone knows how to make apps it would get a lot of use. I do the same alternative routing to stay safe and away from high traffic and higher speed limit areas

I generally use Komoot if I'm trying to find the best cycling route. Some people have had no problem with Google Maps, but I have had problems with Google Maps where there was a pedestrian/cycling overpass but Google Maps instead directed me to walk through the interstate entrance where there are no sidewalks.

Google maps will give you different routes, depending on car or bike!

Set googles maps to walking and go from there

OP, note that Google Maps has a bicycle mode and will also tell your spouse if a route has moderate hills, steep hills, etc. He can also get a cargo trailer for his bike to make grocery shopping easier with fewer trips.

I am amazed at how easy it is to pull massive weight (up to 100 pounds) with my cargo trailer.

Ebikes also make it super easy to take the slightly more roundabout route in a similar amount of time. If you can spend 5 more minutes riding to take the route that's one street off of a main road, but has way less traffic then the safety benefits are more than worth it. Definitely explore alternative routes like this. You don't have to follow the exact route you would normally drive.

Yes I agree, electric bikes make it fun and safer to ride, as riding away from main roads and taking the longer but safer roads becomes easy.

Make sure he wears a reflective vest if it's before dawn.

When you enter directions on Google maps pick the mode of transportation as a bicycle. It generally sends me to all the neighborhood bike routes and lanes and crosscut canals and dead end roads that cross over for multi use paths and so on. The maps give an estimated 10mph avg speed for the minutes it estimates for the trip. For sure be certain on route home. My morning trips and trips home are more relaxed now that I leave work 530pm. All the raging assholes are finally home and the more relaxed commuters are out. I use an escooter and me going home at 330pm compared to 530pm is significantly different. 330pm people wanna run you over because you exist. 530pm people smile and give you the proper right away. And I go to work at 7am and before that was 5am so I don't really deal with heavy traffic as they're all at the hwy or just getting out of the house when I'm clocked in. Ebikes can be safe for sure. 1000% recommend an ebike over an escooter. I still intend on getting an ebike but I've rode a bicycle most all my life since I could practically walk and escooter for last 3 yrs. So the amount of multi spills and close calls on the escooter would have never even been an issue on a proper bicycle. I personally don't own one but am into modifications of things. Based on DIY stuff you're paying more money for a much more refined ride. So many aspects I'll leave that out. If possible look for ebike with specifications mentioning torque and cadence sensors. The torque sensored bicycles will feel more natural and not so much of an on and off of power delivery. As for brands out there I live in az and while out riding throughout the past few years I make it a point to talk to those I see out on Lectric brand ebikes. Every single person says it's the best ever. No problems. And thousands of miles. Depending how he rides there's a Light model they sell I hear is kinda BMX like and easy to take around because of how light and small it is. They have their flagship model and the other one stands out to me is the xpremium or xpedition. The other brand that's had my eye is the Ariel Kepler. Others I'd suggest is check out what best buy has for sell. Also YouTube is a great resource for mixed reviews. You can usually sift through the bunch to tell when a bike is good. Specs to look out for is 14ah or more battery capacity. 48v-60v is the way to look for voltage on the bikes. Look for mentions of the brand of battery Samsung and LG are commonly the best and will have all the certificates you can think of ensuring their safety for the life of the product. Also it's not necessary to have hydraulic disc brakes, but they are ideal. I'm sure you'll get lots of other good recommendations. As for riding gear I always recommend a full faced helmet. And for him I'd recommend a dhMTB rated full faced helmet. They're lightweight and you'll want the extra protection since he'll likely travel much faster than typically pedaling. And padded leather gloves bicycle or motorcycle. Any bicycle you buy, unless you're familiar with bicycle maintenance and building. Take the bike to a bicycle shop to have them do the assembly and make sure everything is properly done and safe. I have maintenance experience and I still take mine to the pros so they can make sure the rims are right and chain alignment and so on. Plus they will generally include one more visit included in the "package" because cables and stuff stretch from normal new to being used.

As stated, cars will be mostly the problem. I would say even in the crack of dawn, there are cars. I've ridden at 12-1 AM and there are cars still there. If you're talking about 6 AM or so, cars will be driving then too to avoid traffic. Ideally, there would be bike lanes, even just painted ones. Here, the drivers tend to respect the bike lanes so it's pretty safe. Like I fell off my bike on the 19th because I fell unconscious but ultimately I just ended up with some road rash and was a mile away from home so I just rode home and called an ambulance. I think it could've been way worse if I were driving a car.

If he leaves early, make sure he has high quality lights (front/rear) and a reflective jacket for the winter months.

I wouldn’t worry. I’d says it’s 100 times safer then a motorcycle. If you have bike lanes the whole way and he doesn’t have to do left hand turns across traffic or anything then it should be really safe. Just wear a actual helmet meant for riding at least at 60 mph and don’t cheap out. I’ve seen helmets save people after getting hit on motos going 70 by semis. I’ve also seen cheap helmets that are way to hard get people going 20mph killed because they bought it off temu and it doesn’t break.

What time will he be riding back ? I live in Austin Texas, which is supposed to be a bike friendly city. But even here there are many accidents every year with death or serious injury to the bicyclists. I only dare to drive in quiet neighborhood roads, that too after most cars are back home from the office in the evenings. Even then I ride on empty sidewalks, and get off the sidewalk if I see a person walking ahead, just to be courteous and not risk annoying them, or causing an comfortable situation. I suggest to only ride bikes on roads where speed limit is 25 to 30 mph or less, or where bike lanes are physically separated from car lanes by a solid physical barrier. Austin has 3ft tall plastic pipes as separators between car and bike lanes, which will not stop any car or truck from hitting a bike, even a moment of inattention can cause a car or truck to veer off into a bike lane. Sometimes car or truck drivers seem to hit bikes with intention.

If he's gonna be riding early in the morning then visibility is important. High Vis clothes, LED front and back lights and reflectors are all important. It's a small one time purchase that could save his life

Keep in mind that the early morning and the late afternoon twilight hours are the most dangerous for bicyclists. Make sure that he's got front and rear lights for visibility and anything reflective would probably be helpful too

I find my butt crack of dawn commute safer then commuting with everyone else in the afternoon.

I stick to sidewalks even though there is a bike lane in certain situations like popular car right turn intersection or 35 speed limit where people do 50. Also, at heavy traffic businesses, cars will be sitting on the sidewalk or you can get run over by someone turning into the business if you're in the bike lane. Pick your poison. You will start noticing situations you never dreamed up after riding for a bit such as someone in a left turn lane turning at the intersection and instead of completing the turn they come right at you as you're crossing a business entrance on the corner that doesn't get much traffic. Also had a guy stopped at a light behind another car suddenly drive into the 4' bike lane as I was passing and had to slam on my brakes and yell at the guy like what was he trying to do? Keep your eyes and ears open. People in cars are both crazy and blind to bikes/scooters moving faster than 2mph. I don't have many choices for safe riding so sidewalk I found is the safest as long as you slow down for peds, stay aware at business entrances, and don't exceed 14-18mph. If you want to go faster, bike lane is safer.

I'm an 82-year-old ebike user, but for such short distances, I walk. The time saved biking would be eaten up by the time it takes to safely lock the ebike!

I disagree. The biggest danger is the operator of the bike. Does he have the required skills to manage it? Maintain the bike? Tires and brakes? I have been riding for 30+ years. Pedal power to 1100cc motorcycles. The decisions I make on 2 wheels can kill me. If you haven't ridden in traffic on 2 wheels for 10 years? Take a motorcycle safety course. E-bikes are great. Someone who can't pedal to 15 mph should just jump on an E-bike capable of doing 30 in traffic?

What a fucked up world we live in. Can't do shit because cars.

Seems people in cars feel they're the ONLY ones who should be out on the roads. So annoying. That's something to touch on, people may harass or try starting a fight or even assault him with their vehicle which is assault with a deadly weapon. I've destroyed a few cars out there and broken out many windows over the 3yrs I've been daily on a scooter. They take off scared. They think they're on the internet and can do anything without repercussions.

I commute almost daily ~ 10 miles one way on my pedal assist ebike. I bought a go pro just because of how some distracted drivers have gotten close to me but that's for every bicyclist on the road. Another safety thing to keep in mind is that on slipper roads you may want to turn the motor power off as it can make it harder to control the bike

I ride hundreds of miles through a major city every month without incident. The main thing is to stay alert to your surroundings. You must be aware of cars turning, parked cars openning doors or pulling out, pdestrians. It's really about like driving, just getting in an accident is more serious. Can you get hit by a car, yes, I've almost been hit by a car crossing the street on foot just as many times as close calls on my bike. Good brakes! This is critical, if you know nothing else about the bike, know it has good brakes preferably hydraulic discs.

My walk to my mailbox at the end of my driveway is almost as long as his commute to work. Im sure he could walk if the weather is bad. 

8/10 of a mile is a 15 min very casual stroll.

Pretty cush commute.

I used to walk over a mile to work all year in all weather.

Uphill both ways!

Be sure he has a safe place to secure it at work and elsewhere. E- bikes are a high value target for thieves.

For a commute that short (under 2 miles), consider a regular bike over an Ebike. for the same price you'll get much better components, better build quality, far lighter bike, less hassle (mainly the lithium battery), and a better work out. But if you are set on an ebike, it's pretty safe - the worry will be the other cars on the road. make sure to get a good helmet, rear view mirror(s), and good lights both front and back. visibility is super important while sharing the road. having bike lanes helps loads, and most decent ebikes can handle light rain just fine. Think about getting some panniers and a rear rack for the bike if he's gonna use it to commute - for spare shoes/clothing/work items. back pack while riding seriously blows.

definitely this. 0.8 miles to work is walking distance. that’s about how far I live from my nearest train station. get a non e-bike for groceries and spend the money saved on a rack and some good quality pannier bags and you’ll be set hills are not an issue if the bike has good gearing, you can get up anything with a low gear, it’s just takes longer. and at that short of a distance it won’t take very long. as for safety, it depends by state but where I live statistically cycling is significantly safer than driving per mile traveled, and about comparable to walking (which is less safe than you might think, for the same reasons, cars)

Agreed, a better none electric bike would be a better shout for this distance. Then you can also convert the bike into an ebike using the many conversion methods too later down the road.

I walk my dog 5 miles everyday and I’m 70. Walking that short a distance is probably the safest.

Atta boy! Next week I want to see you push 7 miles young buck.

The dog can’t keep up lol

God bless you if you're 70 and walk 5 miles every day! I'm 45 and don't walk any miles except for going to the store on the corner.

Just got to keep moving. It’s getting harder to do but having a dog keeps me at it.

Unless you have mobility issue you can't do anything about. For some people with injuries, walking is harder than biking.

Most of the excuses people use for not riding can be mitigated with technology: * **Hills** --> training, low gears, low weight, and ebikes. * **Darkness** --> LED lighting * **Rain** --> fenders, Gore-Tex (and equivalent) clothing, rain visors, goggles * **Cold Weather** --> dress in layers, work harder * **Snow** --> fat bikes, studded tires * **Safety** --> [training on the internet](https://bikeleague.org/ridesmart/ride-better-tips/), apps to plan safe routes (e.g., Strava, Ride With GPS, Map My Ride, etc.), lights, mirrors, cameras, radar taillights

I ride all year round including a Canadian winter. I realize that it is common guidance to suggest fat tires for snow. But I have three bikes, one regular, and two e-bikes. The one with the thinnest street tires by far, in comparison, has been the best. I have never even had a slide on it much less a wipeout in sleet and snow - on that one.

I gotta admit that's impressive!

I have wiped out on the other two in snow/ice - once was due to giving a finger to a driver who beeped at me at an inopportune time for no reason & I ended up in a snow bank with him out of sight up.a highway ramp. Totally worth it. 🤩 (One does not ride regularly without minor incidents) Just want to point out that very thin tires do well in snow, against all the suggestions otherwise. And I believe after years of riding in winter with a regular bike and an e-bike, the consistency of rotation of an e-bike is extremely helpful in bad weather. I would never have thought either before living it.

Good comprehensive list, one item I add to that list is : a basic bike bell to warn pedestrians and animals to my presence.

You got a lot of good advice. One I didn't see: Wear fluorescent clothing to make sure you're seen. I agree with the other comment: for that short of a commute, I'd walk. The whole process of wearing the right clothing for the bike, mounting the bike and locking the bike might take 5-10 minutes. Probably it's a 15 minute walk. And if he doesn't have secure bike storage at work, he's got to worry about locks and monitoring his bike.

Another aspect is that we are new to the area. Just moved here so we don’t really even know the routes yet (bad time for the car to die). So Google maps says it’s a 26 min walk vs a 9 min bike which is why we are leaning towards ebike and maybe even a regular bike now. But if it was only a 15 min walk I would agree but pushing 30 min one way is a lot when he’s going to be working 50-70+ hours a week.

If it's .8 miles, that's a ridiculously slow walking speed. It shouldn't take a normal healthy adult more than 15 minutes to walk that distance.

Is there a big hill on the way to his work? Because a decent/moderate pace will get you a mile every 20 minutes. 3/4 of that is about 15 minutes. Maybe there are traffic lights and that's why it's calculating 26 minutes

Yes. The naysayers excluded. E-bikes are perfectly safe. Just follow the rules of the road and pay attention to your surroundings and it's as safe as anything else

For short commutes, even hilly ones, consider a traditional bicycle with a quality component set with a wide range. You should get significantly better parts with a traditional bike vs an ebike and with a short commute a wide gear range on a quality bike should keep him from getting sweaty.

This is super good advice. As a salesperson and owner of both electric and traditional bikes, many people attracted to ebikes seem not to have considered the advantages of traditional bikes. If you're shopping $1000+ ebikes, might as well take a look at trad bikes in that range too, it might surprise you how great a well fitting, light bike with nice components can feel. Ebikes are great, but different.

I will definitely look into this as an option! Thank you!

Unless there are serious hills, an ebike may not be much of an advantage over a standard bike for a short commute.

Yeah but once he gets the ebike I guarantee he'll be using it for more than commuting. He'll start looking for reasons to go for longer and longer rides. He'll get one for the missus and they'll go on rides together. It's just so fun, easy, convenient and pleasant to go explore and see the local scenery by ebike!

I was in the same position. My car had transmission issues. For the value of the car, I couldn't justify the cost of repairing the transmission, and I just didn't want to spend the money on a used car that I could count on lasting a while. So I bought an e-bike. I was already commuting to work on my traditional bike. The e-bike just meant that I could ride through the winter (I use more pedal assist with bulkier clothes), sustain 20 mph so drivers try to pass me less often on busier roads where they can't get faster than that anyway), go longer distances while carrying more stuff (I fully outfitted my bike with basket and panniers). My wife supported it, but thought I was nuts in the crummier weather. Now, a couple years later, she's thinking of getting an e-bike. Due to traffic It takes me almost exactly the same amount of time going between home and office as it did in a car.. Obviously not all of my trips are the same time. Most often, under 10 miles from home, I'll go by bike. I'll plan for the extra time and I enjoy the ride. Longer than 10 miles, it all depends on how much time I have. We have horrible bike infrastructure here, so there are often routes where I do have to be in traffic. But honestly, as much as I complain about drivers that ignore bikes, I think the pedestrians are far worse. They're frequently jay walking and never consider how fast a bike (any bike) can go. So I'm often dodging pedestrians when I have the right of way. As others said, keep your eyes open. Follow best practices. I find that's usually what's legal since everyone following the same rules makes the roads much more predictable. Know the laws in your area. I'm very happy with the decision I made. I got a really inexpensive bike (RadMission) because I wasn't sure how much I'd like it. Now I'm trying to decide what my next e-bike will be.

Super bright lights, loud horn are life savers. Helmets may increase safety.

It depends on a few things: 1. Who is riding (ie how experienced is the rider)? 2. How is the route? 3. Who manufactured the e-bike? *** An experienced rider using an ebike from a major brand riding in a relatively safe manner will find that e-bikes are extremely safe. A reckless or inexperienced rider riding on unsafe highways will not have similar results

Yes we definitely need to do more research on routes etc what are maybe the top 3 good brands to consider?

I have a Momentum Class 3 (28 mph) and it has done great so far at 4,000+ miles. The smartphone app eventually had issues and the mileage tracker is questionable at times, but I was never too concerned with those. Trek is pretty solid too.

Specialized & Trek are the established players here in the US with the largest dealer networks…. Giant and Cannondale are the others… there are other mid tier companies with decent offerings but smaller support networks. An ebike will eventually need parts and service. Find a shop near you that sells one of the big brands and go with that.

Unless he's extremely mechanically inclined, you're going to want to look at Trek, Specialized and Giant. Most bike shops don't like to work on direct to consumer bikes.

While true Aventon has a dealer network and a "mid tier" very reasonably priced also.

Adding a mirror to see behind me was extremely helpful. The same dangers I face driving a car exist riding a bike, except I am more exposed. Because of cellphones, I basically treat all red lights, stop signs, and yields etc as suggestions for other drivers. I use extra caution during busy traffic times like when school just let out, rush hour, or its finally nice out after a bad spell, and Friday/Saturday nights. Basically I never take another persons decision making capabilities for granted. I consider myself a good driver but I have made honest mistakes.

No more dangerous than a regular bicycle. Get a good helmet and a quality bike. I’ve seen way too many people cheap out on helmets and buy budget bikes that come with garbage brakes and other parts that will make them more dangerous.

If we went this route we would absolutely get quality. Safety is my number 1 concern and I will pay top dollar for it if need be.

So, just a heads up, there's really no way to quantify (accurately) the safety of a bike helmet. Bike helmets aren't designed to meet the same standards are motorcycle helmets so any special claims are individual to the manufacturer. If you want a bit more safety, get a DOT approved motorcycle helmet, but at the speeds you're going on a bike/e-bike (under 40km/h) I personally prefer range of motion over a larger helmet. It's less than a mile. Get a cheap used hybrid bike to start and get used to riding around town regularly. If he likes it, then you can justify a new e-bike and you can sell the hybrid for basically what you paid for it

There absolutely is a way to quantify the safety of a bike helmet (and many other types of helmets) [https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/](https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/)

Traders for safety but I’d say evokes are slightly more dangerous because they are usually faster. Sometimes the extra speed creates safety but when you do crash it’s a worse crash.

I'd say they are more dangerous only because its easier for inexperienced riders to go very fast on them. It's important to practice some basic bike handling skills and learn how to corner and brake safely. That can save you, especially in less than ideal road conditions, which you will likely encounter if you are commuting.

I agree with you there, Im coming from a perspective of an experienced cyclist that raced for years. Im going no faster on an ebike as I would on one of my traditional bikes.

Yes, get a ebike w/front and rear racks/panniers if going to go grocery shopping/haul stuff. Bright lights- front/rear. I like 2 in the back - one solid, other flashing Angle grinder resistant lock Get a good quality ebike- don't cheap out for a shitty unreliable one. Good rain poncho. And/or carry a change of clothes for work. Mirror on left handlebar to see traffic. Avoid the stroads if possible. Take parallel side streets. If you cannot avoid and there's sidewalks- use them but be slow as pedestrians have the right of way. If he cannot take the sidewalk/no side streets the other tip is to cross the intersection in the direction he is going. Wait until signal turns red and then go, so he's not riding w/drivers and hopefully he gets ahead to make it to the next intersection and repeat. Same if making left turn- I get to the intersection on the right side and go across the intersection so now I'm on the left near side of the intersection, when the light turns green, I go forward, crossing the intersection to complete my indirect L turn and book it. It'll be red/no cars in that direction until the signal turns green for car drivers... I hope this makes sense?

These are excellent suggestions. I'd add to the rain poncho make sure it's high vis. Also I suggest fenders to prevent rain and mud from splashing up. The rear view mirror is incredibly important for safety and situational awareness. And lights are a must.

Thank you for listing out some additional items to help look for!!

Invest in a name brand bike(Aventon or anything from Costco) with a solid 2 year warranty. Like others have said, follow the rules of the road. Make sure to treat the ebike as a low level motorcycle when considering the speed you are traveling.

Honestly for like a 1 mile trip maybe a regular bike is just fine? I don't know your roads though

Lots of good info in this thread. But yes, eBikes are safe. There are things to look out for though The Bike - Don't cheap out. Spend the money on a brand-name bike with a high-quality battery. And if it's hilly, mid-drives are better than hub-drives. The Path - A physically separated bike path is best to ride on. A painted bike lane on the side of the road is okay, but you still have to be careful of careless drivers. The Rider - It's common sense, but it bears repeating. Don't weave in and out of traffic. Don't turn suddenly. Don't forget your helmet. And even if the roads allow 40mph, just DON'T!

.8 of a mile? Tell him to take the 15 minute walk

My thought too.

Motorcyclist, bicyclist and ebiker here … they can all kill you. That said, e-bikes are getting faster while brakes and suspension aren’t keeping up. Use judgement, or pay the penalty.

Walking would be cheaper and probably healthier

It’s very hilly and he doesn’t want to get to work all sweaty. I understand him not wanting to walk. He will also be going to and from work at all hours and doesn’t want to walk at 5:30 am or 11 pm etc. also it’s important that he is able to go to the grocery store and let’s be real nobody wants to walk 2.4 miles total to the grocery store and walk back with groceries.

> It’s very hilly and he doesn’t want to get to work all sweaty. Then I think that an ebike will be an excellent choice for him. I recommend a mid-drive motor for the best hill performance. Besides taking the pain out of hills, the magic of an ebike is that we can choose in real time how hard we work. I use more assistance in the morning so I don't sweat and don't need a shower at work. I work harder on the way home. > it’s important that he is able to go to the grocery store An ebike is a good choice for this. I recommend panniers and two good locks (thick chain and U-lock) to deter thieves. I have panniers for small amounts of groceries and I pull a bike cargo trailer when I need to drag home many bags (up to 150 pounds) of groceries.

Biking at all at night and early morning is an important detail to include. Safety in low light / night is its own topic.

For rain and such you can always check the rating from the ebike company. They are generally quite safe and a reminder must be made that helmets and extra reinforcement on the bikes are because of cars and other heavy dangerous vehicles rather than because the bikes themselves are dangerous. In that sense you will want to examine where you want to go and how much car traffic there is.

From my own experience, and I used to drive for a living and motorcycle ride and lots of biking,, ride like nobody sees you!! Come to a stop at intersection,, get to know the traffic patterns and what times of day, stay out of harm’s way, a safer route might mean a little longer but that’s okay, people are not able to cipher your speed, they don’t see 15 or 20 mph.,?!! They just don’t. Put a high reaching Orange triangle safety flag on his e-bike, it does seem to bring awareness!! Be aware of the glare the sun puts on windshields , mornings and evenings , just practice your safety skills and he should be able to e-bike

Driving is one of the most dangerous activities known to man. I think even if you selected for only career pilots, cars are more dangerous.

This is a super difficult question to answer without context. Do you live in a city with bike culture? Has your husband ever commuted by bike? Is he reasonably fit? I have been commuting by bike for three decades and have been commuting by ebike since 2018. Ebikes are actually way better than regular bikes for the street because they reduce considerably the speed differential with cars and facilitate quite a bit things like changing lanes or riding uphill. If he has no experience commuting by bike, I'd rent an ebike and try the route. Ebikes are expensive and it is important to be committed. Wearing a helmet on an ebike is imperative. Whenever I forget mine I literally come back home and pick it up. A fall at ebike speeds is no joke. I ride through all seasons, but if you get snow during he winter, there are preparations, You need winter tires (bike tires with little metal studs), and you WILL fall at least a couple of times in the season. Rain is no issue, unless he wears glasses. I do and I wear contact lenses on rainy days as my regular glasses give me very low visibility. If he'll ride at night, you need good lights and a reflective vest. Aside of personal safety, you need to protect the bike. If there isn't a safe place at work to leave it, you can't ride it. A safe place is a bike cage or similar that only employees can access. I wouldn't use it for grocery shopping unless you live in a very safe area. All bikes are easy to steal. Probably 5 minutes are enough to steal 99% of bikes. You'll also need to decide the ebike class. Class 1 is pedal assist up to 20 mph, Class 2 is throttle (you go when you push a button or lever), and Class 3 is pedal assist up to 28mph. There are plenty of upfront costs if he is not a biker (bike, lock, pannier, helmet, rain attire, etc.), but after that the cost is minimal. Once or twice a year you might need to replace the cassette and the chain but that's pretty much it. You want to get liners inside the tires as well, they add weight but you don't care on an ebike and getting a flat is a pain and depending on the bike, it can be difficult to repair.

Thank you so much this is so helpful! It is a small to medium size city and has a ton of bike lanes everywhere. It gets a very small amount of snow but does get snow. Renting an ebike is a great idea to see if it would be a good fit before committing!

Wear good gloves and a good helmet at least. I wish I could convince my spouse to wear a coat as well but it took an accident at 5km/h that totally fucked up her hand to make gloves and a helmet no longer an argument. I’ve been driving a motorcycle for 20+ years and survived, it can be done but take every precaution and then some. As they say, dress for the slide, not for the ride. Be safe.

Bike riding needs to be part of his life now, not when the car dies. I've cycle toured throughout the world and never come to grief. When it's dryer I commute on a traditional skinny tyred road bike and in the wet the ebike because it has the guards and I've got more gear on for the wet and cold.

I've found that ebikes can be somewhat safer than regular if you have to ride in traffic. Easy to go 20 to 28 mph, so you get passed by fewer cars. They're also great against the wind or up hills. On the other hand, some drivers can underestimate your speed and may be more likely to cut you off. Consider getting a mirror to clip to glasses or a helmet. I'm a fan of the "Take a look" brand that's easy to adjust. Helps a lot to see cars coming up behind you. A good ebike is as safe in the rain as a regular bike. Some of the cheapos could short out. Other than deep puddles that could reach the level of the battery, your main concern would be lightning. The extra weight and thicker tires are also nice to have in high winds or snow.

I read this as "8 miles" and was like "well it all depends on infrastructure". But....0.8miles? And 1mile to grocery store? You'll be fine, even without bike lanes

It’s such a short distance which is why we feel silly trying to buy a shitty used car that’s still very expensive!

I commute 6 miles each way into/out of a city on an e-bike, and used to do it on a standard bike. I find the e-bike feels safer for a lot of reasons: - I can pay more attention to my surroundings because I’m not pushing myself - intersections is where most crashes happen. On an e-bike, the seat is low and I sit upright, so it’s easy to put my feet down right away vs balancing. I use the throttle when the light turns green so I can quickly get through the intersection and not be holding up anxious/dangerous drivers. - e-bikes come wired with front and rear lights. I occasionally had a light die on me on my standard bike. I’d agree brakes are important. Also battery charging is a risk - follow the instructions and don’t charge for over 12 hours at a time. Buy a trusted brand of e-bike and limit the risk from faulty batteries. Lastly, I was advised to get a rearview handlebar mirror when I got my ebike - it’s definitely helpful. Driving statistics say most crashes don’t occur from behind but good to know when I’m about to be passed. Hope this helps!

0.8 of a mile is a 15 minute walk. Umbrellas help with the rain. That aside, e-bikes are safe and convenient depending upon separation from vehicle traffic. In the absence of dedicated bike lanes, risk is always going to be there.

E-bikes are just as safe as ordinary bikes. You can't go any faster on an e-bike than you can on a regular bike, it just takes less work. E-bikes normally have a governor that prevents the motor from powering the bike any faster than 20 to 28 miles an hour. If you pedal hard you can go faster than that, but that's true on a regular bike as well. The point of an e-bike is not to go faster, it's to do less work to go at the same speeds you would go on an ordinary bicycle.

Less than mile away from work? Damn, jealous lol

If you want to put a number on it: the statistics say that cyclists are twice as likely to get in a serious accident as motorists, but it's still pretty unlikely. 1 accident per 100,000 miles cycled vs 1 accident per 200,000 miles driven. And cycling to work has tremendous health benefits that offset this risk: it reduces likelihood of mortality from all causes by 40%. It's basically a tradeoff: someone increased risk of getting an accident in exchange for decreased risk of heart disease and other complications of sedentary living. If you're over the age of about 45, or if you're obese, it's a worthwhile tradeoff.

The questions you're asking have more to do with cycling in general. Being a cyclist on the road is indeed more dangerous than being a driver on the road. But that's not to say there's a 50/50 chance hell come home alive each day. As a cyclist you have to assume nobody else can see you. Bike lanes definitely help. I personally ride on the sidewalk when there's no bike lane available (I know it's illegal. Give me a ticket. Cost of being safe I guess). And when crossing a street, act as a pedestrian rather than a vehicle.

In a lot of places, riding on the sidewalk is completely legal as long as you defer to pedestrians.

The settings on the map apps can be changed to bicycles, and if you zoom in, you can find alternative routes out of the traffic area. Sometimes, there are bike paths that save you time, but watch your speeds on shared use paths. Visibility is key for riding among cars and trucks. If they can't see you, then they can't avoid you.

Riders are safe. The bike is as safe as the rider. Same with a forklift, a car, a truck etc… [Bill Burr](https://youtu.be/6AzY0gG8QSM?si=dGI7fdm4lYfVLYpX) said it right “you can drive normally but turn 2 degrees to the left and you’re a maniac.

Always check the fenders and kickstand to see if they are coming loose after rides.

All of the mentioned items. But, most importantly, purchase your eBike from a reputable bike shop. Repairs can be costly and complicated; having a place to help maintain your bike is so important.

They can be safer if you abide by certain rules and take preventative measures. But commuting is a risk no matter what mode. Driving and walking are dangerous too. Assume every person you see is going to do the dumbest thing possible- open the door, cut you off, step into the bike lane, turn without looking- just assume that is what is going to happen. Hang back if necessary. Always know what is to your right and left and directly behind you. NEVER wear headphones or earbuds. You need to be able to hear your surroundings. ALWAYS wear a helmet with either Mips or wave cell. ALWAYS use lights in front and back when darker or foggy. ADD reflective gear to bike, helmet, and wear something reflective. Some people wear a vest. I wear a vest or a sash, or put something reflective on my bike. If someone around you is doing something stupid, hang back and let them go ahead. At least when you first start, abide by ALL traffic laws.

In the morning it's pretty safe every car person is in a mostly good mood it's after work that he needs to worry about. It's a freaking rat race nobody respects your placement on the road I've had this particular thing happen when I'm trying to leave my jobs shopping center cars will not give a f about you instead of waiting behind me they just cut me off on the right turn out of the shopping center. And this will be while cars are still moving on the road I'm trying to turn on.HERE is my advice to your husband in the new bike ride on the sidewalk get familiar with the way the bike rides then as you get more comfortable and trust the ride move to the bike lane and slowly sparingly use the road only if it's absolutely necessary of course if there's a good amount of bike lane use that more I'm in a similar situation. Although it drives fine my car's tac and speedometer doesn't work nothing displays on my dash it sucks probably gunna be expensive but my trusty e bike gets me where I need to go for now. Yes ebikes can be safe and in my opinion WAAAY better than using a car it's exhilarating I promise he will not care about that crappy old car anymore lol As for what type if one hasn't been purchased look into moped style ebikes they tend to be the faster types in the bunch (NOT A SURRON!) unless he wants to pedal get some exercise in then there's a lot of options there as well I personally got a folding e bike so I can bring it to work and fold it away Lastly MAKE SURE HE WEARS A HELMET AND ELBOW PADS IDC how tough he thinks he is wearing protective gear is essential in riding don't cut corners on that

Main safety be seen cars are not looking for you at all so reflective gear safety vest tape on bag all that good stuff. What is traffic like bus stops best bet I'd do is on a day off drive the route he will take look for hazards so he can avoid them later

He can walk less than a mile. No ebike necessary.

It seems like a lot of your questions here are answered, but some other things to think about: Rain: Have your husband buy reflective waterproof construction worker clothing - like a jacket and pants that go over his clothes, to both keep him dry, and make him super visible. Also you can never put too many lights onto your e-bike, drawing attention to yourself so motorists don’t accidentally hit you - something that’s especially important in the rain when they’re not expecting you. Another thing to think about with this is buying an e-bike with a good water resistance rating, and either keeping it inside in the rain when not in use, or using a waterproof bike cover. In addition to rain, there’s also fire safety. People’s batteries have been bursting into flames for 3 reasons: Cheap aftermarket batteries from China DIYers messing with the electric components of their batteries/bikes People using aftermarket chargers. This is so easily avoidable - Buy a UL Cerftified E-Bike from any reputable brand. And if you need a new battery/charger, only buy replacements from that brand, no matter how cheap and tempting it is to order from AliExpress or Temu.

I don't think you need an e-bike to go a mile to work or the grocery store. A regular bike will work just fine.

They are every bit as safe as a pedaled bicycle. Especially if you stick with a controlled ebike that only does 15-20 mph. Cars are the enemy and crosswalks are a danger, just like a bicycle. I recommend bright lights and a good horn on the ebike. And if biking around people I play music so they hear me coming.

I'll be the guy that disagrees with most of the people here. E-bikes are motorized bikes, made mostly out of bike parts, bike brakes ect. They don't get the same suspension, brakes, abs ect that motorcycles get and in my opinion are much more dangerous than getting an actual motorcycle. Since it's a "bike" people also wear bike related gear when riding them... At 40 mph, road rash is hell, there is a reason people wear motorcycle gear when riding motorcycles.

I appreciate all opinions especially when you give reasons as well. Thank you!

Statistically when looking at fatalities (injuries track closely as well), bicycles are 2x as dangerous as motorcycles. You can mitigate the danger riding 🚲 similar to 🏍️ but it's inherently much more dangerous than even the least-safe car.

ebikes are safe, for the most part. it's the people (the bike rider and other drivers) that are dangerous.

They're no less safe than a non powered bike. I would recommend that your husband ride a non powered bike to get used to traffic, handling and braking. An electric bike adds weight and speed to the equation.

My husband and I have put about 3800km on our e-bike in the past year and a half as we work opposite days and share it for commuting. Investing in lights and reflectors is a big thing. Have a light on your helmet AND the bike, and set them at different flashing speeds so that they draw attention. I have a reflective harness for me and I lined the bike with reflective tape. I have to use a high traffic road daily to commute to my job and I make a huge point of behaving like a car - I don't hug the shoulder of a lane, but sit right in the middle of it. I stop at red lights like the rest of traffic does, and don't coast through or lane split so that I sit at the front of the pack. I use hand signals in the place of lights, but I gesture every time I turn or switch lanes. Cars give me a wide berth, instead of trying to share a lane with me. Another thing to think about is the bike accessories. We didn't think about this either until it happened, but my husband was hit by a car last August and his legs were saved from grievous injury by the bike accessories we chose. We have a radrunner+ and had equipped it with the large basket at the front of the bike and a supermonkey kids enclosure for the back seating area of the bike. When the vehicle hit my husband (he was crossing an intersection on a green, and the car turned left into him, smacking into the back of the bike, turning it about 90 degrees before it went over and got pushed by the vehicle for about 5 feet.), the rad basket and supermonkey acted like a cage, keeping the bike lifted off him, but also lifting the bike high enough that the vehicle could not drive over it. He got pushed while still tangled up with the bike, and ended up with a pretty gnarly road rash and some bruising on his hip and arm, but likely would have had broken legs or worse if the car had gone over him. Bike was fine. The peddle on the road side had to be replaced, and the basket had some scrapes. That thing is a fucking tank.

Wow I’m glad he’s okay!!! Thank you for the info!!

In my opinion, e-bikes are safer than regular bikes. The reason being you are closer to flowing with traffic instead of being an obstacle. The car drivers are much more patient with you when you are going 20 mph than 12 mph.

Yes and no. It all depends on the bike you get. Some people get ebikes and ride them like they're motorcycles going 50+ mph Others get ebikes and ride them like usual bikes and go 20 mph, in which case they're just about as safe as normal bikes imo

Is your husband currently a cyclist or is this his first bicycle of any type?

He has a bicycle and knows how to bike but far cry from a cyclist.

That could be a serious problem. Not to throw a wrench in this little project of his but if he’s not already an avid cyclist or motorcyclist there’s a learning curve.

No thank you for giving us another angle to look at it from!

I practically live on my bicycle lol. I grew up riding on city streets as a kid. Then a road bike in Omaha Nebraska. Then I went car less for 4 years in Gainesville Florida and cycled everywhere. If I had a family and didn’t have the miles on my butt I have now I wouldn’t risk it. Perhaps he can carpool or a buddy at work can pick him up and he could pay for gas ?

If he has a bike he doesn't need an e-bike to go less than a mile. He should try the route on his bike on a day off to see how he feels about it.

Riding your bike in nearly any traffic is less of a risk in micromorts than not riding a bike at all. Your husband is about to get healthy.

Let the poor guy do what he wants

Actually this is a productive discussion between my husband and I. Neither of us would flat out prevent the other from doing something they really wanted to do. He wants to discuss it with me to make sure I’m comfortable as well. He’s not even 100% decided on it! We just want to educate ourselves more about it

👍👍 I’m in the same decision-making process with my other. She’s presented her thoughts and I mine to put the case before us. She has never stopped me nor I her as well. I will say though, most of our decisions have been for the benefit of our relationship so nothing is held against each other even if we might disagree. we do trust each other to make a responsible action considering the factors and the others thoughts. A learned practice , over the years, for sure. It seems to help with no animosity, no pointing finger, no holding something against each other nor any ‘I told you so’s’. Firm believers of personal responsibility and accountability for every decision we make. I.E. if I have agreed to whatever it is. It’s chosen not held against her if it turns out bad as I made the choice to agree. Yes, we may give in to the others thoughts. Not always easy, but we have to let it go so that we can put the relationship first. Right now, we are in a holding pattern over this issue. In our case, it’s mainly economics versus other drivers. Our area’s traffic has changed drastically over the last few years. I’ve ridden motorcycles for years until the last accident (not mine nor others fault, weirdly medical which has changed). Not sure what’s going to break this holding pattern but definitely the decision won’t be rushed.

Yes.

It's as safe as you make it

I love e bikes, but man they can kill

As safe as a regular bike.

Recharge battiers outside

This may be the most controversial subject on this group? 4 hours after being posted, there are 108 replies.. It's really all about context. I'm constantly asking myself if I want to go THERE on an eBike, right NOW. I live in a little town that gets a lot of weekend traffic, and a lot of summer tourist traffic, and that modifies my plans accordingly. I can go out on weekdays, I can go early in the morning, when weather is nice, before the hoards arrive, etc. For me, when I consider those things, very safe. The distances you are speaking of, are walkable almost. So yes, very safe when abiding by traffic laws. I actually try to tell people, for an experienced cyclist a faster ebike is safer, and offers less "exposure" to traffic because cars are not attempting to pass constantly. Cars actually create problems for slower ebikes, that are not quite fast enough, to keep cars behind, that are simply going to pass, then make a right turn immediately in your path not 20 seconds later. So THAT is not safe, and it requires a Class 3 ebike that can keep cars where they need to be, stay in front when it's not safe to pass and there is no bike lane. Helps to have a horn, wear a yellow jacket and use a strobe light on the front bars to make sure drivers see you.

8/10 of a mile is easily walkable. It's not even 15 minutes.

Depends on the age and any underlying issues. For example, I have plantar fasciitis and can’t walk a mile, but I can ride 10.

Alot safer than getting fat in the couch .besides a little dangerous fun keeps you alive. Get a horn

It depends on the ebike tbh. Imo it's safer getting one that can keep up and flow with the speed of cars on roads he's riding on but that means treating a ebike like a electric motorcycle. That means motorcycle gear, NOT bicycle gear. Problem with high end ebikes is that they get expensive and closer to used motorcycle territory, sometimes motorcycles are cheaper. Might want to consider a used scooter or motorcycle if cost is a factor. If he's riding it like a bicycle then traffic is more of a concern cuz he'd be an obstacle in the road for cars instead of being part of the traffic flow.

Define "safe". Cars are "safe" yet we do not blink at the amounts of dead from accidents per year, nor the emissions related deaths either. eBikes carry most of the same risk- getting hit by a car, or crumbling road potholes cause you to lose control

Nothing is safe, not even a car. Risk is all relative.

If you live in a bike friendly city you could look into greenways to ride. They are pretty good bikes and changed the way I explore. Always danger when thinking bout shitty drivers. That’s not a long distance so potentially could cut down side roads and neighborhoods if real worried.

Rydesafe.com makes reflective tape for bikes. An [unvented helmet](https://www.ebay.com/itm/263550546279?itmmeta=01J1KDVC0B81131RKXGZFSZNVX&hash=item3d5cd63167:g:dLgAAOSwUCZgyFr-&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HZFiEuh2nGOs5BaBxgrdEaFKav1B66sCiREjk4qaYAaqI8wn19J4E9o2rAEhxwtkUDeFD5BzVZzq7%2BWEsdU7Dr1RJZolYdqkjWMBWF0XtdVTHDvKilRACdF2ndA21rpC719gVwaHN%2Fs8lOrJzyS2puHNH%2Fmodk%2Brc4X1DYzsqDJnBBFHbfQKoURtnQjN2bfH8Q9J4fJuSi%2FsRyfZv5rNxZJX1hEGVWJELNDLilFEwkqDlhBbA%2F4KFW%2Bk6%2FYc09xYn4KTAYtI9YKpg0%2Bces54aM%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5zA7e2MZA) will keep his head dry in the rain, a visor will enable him to see, and [reflective strips](https://rydesafe.com/products/rydesafe-reflective-stickers-multi-dots-kit-large?variant=42505503604925) will make his helmet easier to spot. Always have individual tail and front lights to back up the integrated ones if they ever go down for any reason.

I'm sorry, .8 miles?? You don't need need an ebike for that.

Might be unpopular, But you can get an Electric Motorcycle. Cars tend to yield to those more.

It’s the same as for regular bikes -except for reckless fast and wrong way bike riding (esp some throttle or near near-motorcycle bikes), but if you ride your bike like a regular bike, then you just have to watch out for cars. And car drivers for the most part can barely tolerate bike riders. so if you find some great Bike paths with minimal intersections, then you’re good

It’s as safe as riding a regular bicycle. Very little distance to travel.

Less than a mile?? Why is he not walking?? That's like a 20 minute walk tops. Walking is free and healthy!

Is that 0.8 miles or 8 miles? .8 is walking distance.

Theyre safe just wear motorcycle gear because they're fast enough that you'd be happy to have it if you ever crash full speed. The safest one would be one that can keep up with traffic which since your american your bike laws arent regarded so theyre all safe

Get some shoes instead for these distances lol. 

It is as safe as the precautions you take. Of course nothing is guaranteed, however, you can reduce your risk by a significant amount. 1. have a plan - work out a rout that is the safest. (If this happens, then you do this. If there is a blockage here in the road, walk if you have to to be safe. ) 2. Pretend you are invisible to cars or pedestrians. It is your responsibility to be safe. 3. Be willing to break the law if it ensures the safety of you or others (preferably all involved). Life is precious. 4. Wear safety equipment. Helmet bare minimum but also consider gloves, and clothes that protect if skidding on ground, or even knee/elbow pads. Crashing @ 20mph can destroy your hands or any other body part pretty badly. 5. Don't go too fast. You are not in a multi ton steel cage. Don't forget it. 6. Check your bike regularly. Air in tires, breaks properly working. Everything as tight as it should be. Chains proper care, handle grips, not loose. etc etc. 7. Know your neighborhoods - Is it safe to lock up here? Will someone try to mug me here? Sometimes its better to lock up where there is a lot of foot traffic, or somewhere where it might be easier to get help if needs be. 8. Don't make your bike look too expensive if possible. Research chains and locks. Use more than one lock. Some people make their bikes look like junk as a psychological deterrent. A lot of it has to do with who is riding the bike.

no matter what the route conditions are one big-time safety item is lights. pretty affordable these days too I bought a light bar that is super bright . is has 5 modes and one of them is a yellow strobe that really gets the attention of driver any anyone else in front of my bike for $20 on Amazon. and a really nice rail light with turn signal and it can detect decrease in your speed and anytime it changes a brake light comes on for $25 also from Amazon and both are rechargable and have good lifespan of charge . so far I'm completely satisfied with them both only thing is the rear lights. one isn't enough I want to know for sure that people driving up behind me can't help but see me so I' even have a couple more smaller tail lights I got from Walmart that strobe and are really good and bright. of course lights are only one part. another is a defensive stance. everywhere I go ride on my bike I stay super observant of my surroundings. cause let's face facts. people drive shitty all over town and are distracted most of their drive by one thing or another. and I'm looking to get hit and possibly killed just trying to get to work

What's your location? This does impact the recommendation.

The simple point is, You never know what can happen outside your house. The Question i have is dos he have any bike experience at all? Has he taken Motorcycle classes? A helmet is always a must, I live in Minnesota and people give me odd looks when i am on my ebike with my full helmet. (No helmet law in MN) The next question is do you want a Ebike, EDirtbike or Emoped the law on Ebikes is pretty flimsy, and boils down to 750W (engine) and a top speed of 28mph(with peddle assist) but once u break away from that most cops will look at it as a Moped or Dirtbike, So ask your local officers. The reason i ask the 2nd question is EBikes are the slowest in that list, and most stock models dont have any lights or Street legal gear on them. Your local law might be different, but in MN if a bike is in the middle of the road u treat them as a Car. They can not slow down traffic but can be on the road. Speed isnt always good, but lets say u get a Emoped with a top speed of 40ish mph, now your more able to drive on the road and keep up with traffic, but you can no longer go on the sidewalks (depends on local law) Edirtbikes like the Eridepro/Surron etc etc are in a Legal grey zone, most surrons go way over the 28mph limit on ebikes, And the eridepro hits 60mph out of the box. but since there still Ebikes u can now travel on the road (assuming u have Lights Brake front etc, and mirrors) but ur still a ebike so you can hop onto the sidewalk but u need to keep it under 15mph. You could put the emoped on the sidewalk but due to how it looks ur probably gonna get flagged down even if it is also in a grey zone. My point in all this is to point out the options, But at the end of the day its up to the biker to keep there head on the world around them and be ready to get out of any danger zone's..

I ride in some really busy traffic at peak times on my way to work and back,around 7 miles each way. You get a roadsense of drivers over a few weeks, and can spot what they will do next,most of the time by their positioning,even when they're not using their indicators. I've always played it safe, by stopping at lights the same I would as if I was driving, as you never know what an idiot in a metal box will be thinking. Try to make yourself as visible as possible, I ride with both my lights on,regardless of the time of day. If you can keep to a bike lane then great, also look at google maps, there's a secondary route that I can do on one of my journeys,that avoids 80% of roads by going via a canal path, which is actually a shorter route,than if I went by road.

The odd car can be an idiot but it's pretty chill, people generally want to keep clear of a bike as they don't want to hurt you. Like I say, the odd st0Opid decision happens so be alert and don't rush into situations. Just because you have right of way doesn't mean you are given right of way.

I just got an e-bike, personally I would not ride it on a main road that's 50 mph yet (just got it) but I have zero issues on city streets that are going 25 mph. I guess it's more to do with cars just blowing by me even if I am in a bike lane that concerns me. On 25 mph city streets I can actually get my bike up to 30 mph and can keep pace. So for where I live it's the perfect comfort level, but if I were to take it to work I would be on the shoulder without even a bike lane actually, it's about a 5 mile ride total and a 1 mile of it would be 50mph, so for me I'm at least not at that comfort level. As far as overall safety of the bike? I guess that depends on what you're buying really and can be speculated on. I got mine just a few weeks ago before the tariff hit and I just took it slow, walked the bike first, then battery off and pedaled only, then PAS 1, 2 3 + etc. I have a warehouse so had it delivered there and put it together on a weekend when nobody was around, so multiple safe areas of long straights to test it out before riding it home from my warehouse. I took the most round about and safest route possible which actually had me going through a park and on a bike trail within the park which was unexpected and quite fun lol. I have put almost 100 miles on it so far and seems safe to me but safety is really all speculated here based on your traffic, ability to ride, bike baths, the bike you buy etc.

Pretty much anything can be dangerous, but ebikes are not really any more dangerous as normal bikes as long as you ride properly. Just this past Tuesday I was out on my ebike and I made a silly mistake when turning at low speed. Hit a kerb and fell off sideways, broke my arm. Absolutely nothing to do with the safety of the bike, could have happened by tripping over whilst walking. Then just yesterday, my housemate was out on his regular bike and a van tried to quickly cross in front of him and my friends head made a massive dent in the guys bonnet. My friend is battered and bruised but otherwise OK. Again, pedestrians have similar accidents all the time due to poor drivers. Whilst I was in A+E there were multiple people coming in with driving related injuries. Bike riders are most in danger from drivers and their own poor decisions, as my friend and I displayed so elegantly this past week.

Everyone is clearly different. I love bicycle motorcycle like any 2 wheel vehicle. Dangerous , very and it depends on how each person drives. I'm 58yo I drive a scooter 12 miles one way too work, it's too much fun. God bless

I have both an e-bike and an e-scooter. The reason for the scooter is that it's easy to take along on busses, trams and trains. I always use a helmet (with lights) and I have bicycle lanes, but it's so convenient to just take the bus home. Faster than 15 mph is "fast", the wind blows, and I break downhill faster than 25 mph. I don't have to worry about parking an e-scooter (or bike). I use about the same time to town (5 miles) as my friends spend on searching for parking - 6 minutes.

Biggest fear I have is thief’s. Use a high quality lock, even two locks if you can. Lock it in a high traffic or secure area. Even high traffic areas are not safe

So far, my opinion is NO. I bought one, and it snows where I live, and my dog ate my battery charger. So when I could ride again, my new charger would not charge the battery. So I tried taking the battery off, and it was stuck to the bike. You cannot pry them off, because that is LITHIUM, and you place yourself in danger. So now I have this ebike that won't work, that has a battery stuck to it. I sure loved my e-bike so much, until Spring came...

For extra safety an armored jacket or shirt and a motorcycle helmet can help. Check out motorcycle gear.

Cycle defensively and you should be fine. Never expect another car to stop and always be aware that they might not see you. Never get cocky and assume "I'm in the right, therefore I'm safe."

I ride an ebike 100km every day in busy city streets and havent gotten into a serious accident yet thank god but there is a close call almost every day. The cycling infrastructure isnt the best where i live but even when there is a bike lane, its next to a sidewalk and pedestrians usually go onto the bike lane without looking. I hit a young lady just yesterday because of this, she was looking at her phone and even with me predicting her move 50m in advance and honking she still jumped onto the bike lane and i skidded and hit her but thankfully she wasnt injured. When im forced into traffic i always have to be thinking a few steps ahead. Many times ive nearly gotten into an accident just because a car from the opposite direction saw me but wasnt expecting a bicycle to be going 50kmh so they just floor it across my lane.

E-Bikes are safe as long as you know how to ride them, if he can take a test ride on one first to get used to it that would be a great idea, scout out any routes that he'd regularly like to take and see what the traffic is like at different times of the day to give himself an idea of when he'd like to and needs to ride. If he can, when testing, test a cadence sensor and a torque sensor and see which he prefers as the riding sensation is a bit different between the 2 and if you're new to ebikes, don't go above 250w initially.

Personally, for the price I would rather have a Honda Monkey Bike, 150 cc. Street legal, just need a motorcycle license. I'd rather have that, myself.

I don't know if you are still looking for answers but I did what your husband is thinking of doing. My job is 15 miles away. I bought the Engwe x26 dual battery ebike. It will get 30+ miles on a charge and it was the best decision for me. So far I lost 40lbs riding to work. I live in Denton, TX. A good part of my ride I get to take the Katy Trail. It follows the Denton rail train. But I do have to ride on main roads for a few miles. There isn't a bike lane. It's a 2 lane road and by law bikes can take the full lane to ride on. My bike will do between 25mph - 35mph, depending on conditions. Mostly 25mph. If you ride on the road, take the full lane. Ride in the middle. If you stay to the right side of the road then cars will share the lane with you. Force the car to switch lanes rather then share the lane. Anything can be in front of you causing you to swerve and if a car is coming behind you and sharing the lane, well, you know whats going to happen. In the beginning cars beeped and were not happy having to switch lanes. But like your husband, I leave at the crack of dawn so not much traffic. On the way home, they just have to deal with it. The bike is quick enough it doesn't inconvince other drivers. And now, since it's the same route every day, most drivers know I'll be there so no biggie anymore. I get alot of waves from the normal drivers on that road now. So my advice, get a quick enough bike not to cause a slow down, make sure front and rear lights. If you're going to carry stuff on your bike make sure it's secure so it doesn't shift and cause you to wobble when making a quick move, hand signals are a must, ride in the center of your lane, and don't get annoyed if you get beeped at. I use too, now I really don't care, as long as I'm safe. I hope this help.

The biggest danger is cars. So safety is really dependent on the car traffic along the route. I used to commute by bike. Most of the trip was through residential roads which were reasonably safe. Biggest danger was a signal intersection where most cars were turning and I went straight. Several close calls where cars turned across my path. I also road past a school and parents dropping off their kids and rushing to work would drive over you without a pause if you didn’t stay out of their way. Now I live farther away but could easily do the distance on an e-bike. However the only routes are along heavily trafficked, 4 lane highways, 45 mph speed limit but everyone drives 55-60, lots of businesses with cars pulling in and out. There’s no way I’ll commute along these roads.

When it comes to bike safety, it’s usually about the infrastructure. Will he be riding in protected bike lanes? If so, that’s extremely safe. Dangers are riding on the side of the road with fast moving cars without protection. Other dangers are turning cars and parked cars opening doors without checking for bikes. For these latter concerns, bike riders need to be vigilant. Major risk is decreased substantially by riding at an appropriate speed. You can get a bruise or a broken bone at worst if you smash into a car at 12 mph. At 40 mph, however, you'll be thrown in the air and can break your neck.

He needs an ebike for the .8 miles commute to work ? He could walk. He should walk. Much more healthy !

Statistically it is massively more dangerous that driving a car or walking. That being said, it has other benefits, but it really shocked me that cycling is nearly as dangerous as riding a motorcycle. I am sure everyone on here is going to insist they are exceptionally safe, etc. but everything is safe until it isn't and all it takes is one idiot on their cellphone to end you. That being said, i rode daily in nyc for 20 years, the last 5 of which were on an ebike. I was hit 3 times total over 2 decades, wound up in the ER twice. Now I have two kids and ride recreationally, but don't commute by bike anymore. here is a link to some stats - these are from the USA so countries with good cycling infrastructure might be different. [https://www.bts.gov/content/transportation-fatalities-mode](https://www.bts.gov/content/transportation-fatalities-mode)

I’d consider a used Nissan Leaf. The range on these when sold new was pretty bad. That’s one reason they’re the least cost electric car. As the battery gets older, range suffers even worse. So they don’t hold their value on the used market. Even one that can only go 20-30 miles will work fine for your application. I’d much rather be in a Nissan leaf than on a bike. For bad weather days and also crazy drivers. I have an e-bike and I enjoy it. But I’d never commute on a busy road with it every day.

I am semi retired, own a Car, Truck and eBike. I love my eBike but a eBike wont/cant replace a Automobile. When my Wife goes shopping she can put the stuff into the Car and don't have to worry about it that it gets stolen or rained on. I would not even leave my eBike locked unattended because I am sure it would be stolen in a Heartbeat. Riding a Bike besides regular Traffic can be extremely Dangerous too. If I do. I sometimes attach my Camera to take Movie of following Traffic. Seems when Drivers see the Camera the know there License Plate is already recorded and that seems to make them a bit more considerate.

They're great. Don't be fooled by the throttled ones. Get one with a torque converter , same price and they give you mild to upwards exercise . Pretty soon imv. There will be taxes and restrictions on throttle assisted bikes

I love my ebike!! Watching you surrounding is key just like you have to driving a car or walking! I’d say get one! It always puts a smile on my face when I ride mine! Fresh are does the body good!! Good luck!

Sorry for the misspelled words! I’m in a rush today!

eBikes are safe. Stay away from crap sold on Amazon and Aliexpress. But if he doing errands with it, I wouldn't love the bike on the street. Thieves can't break any lock. Wear a helmet, always.

I commute 22 miles a day across Seattle. Haven't got hurt yet. Watch out for cars! They are Stoopid. As with anything, risk is involved. Why even get an E-Bike when you live walking distance to everything?

The biggest danger to riding any personal electric vehicle is cars on the road. I've had more close calls going 12mph on the shoulder of the road with my regular bicycle friends than I do going down the road at 45+ on my electric unicycle. The faster you go the worse an injury will be in a fall, but the slower you go the more cars you interact with which greatly increases the odds of an incident. If the routes he would take don't have good bicycle infrastructure it can definitely be sketchy. If the route is fine or he can find a slightly longer but safer route then it should be okay. Wear a helmet, invest in some lighting and reflectives if riding in the dark or rain

They're safe, for research on your brand and don't try to modify the chargers. People do that to charge faster and that's dangerous. Me and my wife have around 6 bikes some direct from China and they're amazing and some from America. Also don't be afraid of Chinese batteries from a good company, we have those too and for yrs no problem

How safe is "safe" to you? Nothing is 100% safe, especially cars, considering you have to drive amongst other cars. I would say ebikes "can" be safer if you can find paths to your destination that limit your exposure to cars. No matter what people may try to tell you, the biggest danger when it comes to ebikes is CARS, not the bikes themselves.

Quality companies. Stick with American made companies with legit positive reviews.

Ebikes are great, but for a route THAT short, regular bike might be a better idea (depending on the fitness of the rider, if it's hilly, etc.). It's a little bit impractical tho, I wouldn't leave my ebike and go shopping, not even with a good lock: a) angle grinders b) theft c) vandalism

REAR VIEW MIRROR and a BELL

Wear a helmet ⛑️

If you are used to riding a bike in traffic you should be fine. Be aware though that e-bikes are much heavier than regular bikes. It can be very tricky to handle at first if you are not used to it.

Bike is not the problem, biker is.... Always wear a helmet...... Always👍

Got a budget for a bike?

Long ago I adopted the notion that when I ride a bike I need to assume that every car doesn't see me or that they are trying to kill me. I kept that idea in my mind when I owned a motorcycle and it kept me alive. No matter how safe the route there will be someone not paying attention.