Pa. lawmakers propose changes to e-bike laws after crashes raise safety concerns

Two Pennsylvania lawmakers are pushing to update state laws governing electric bicycles after a series of crashes this summer highlighted what they describe as gaps in the state's current regulations. In Pennsylvania, e-bike riders must be 16 years old and cannot go more than 20 miles per hour. Earlier this summer, a 12-year-old boy was hit and killed while riding one. State Senator James Malone says he recognizes the popularity of e-bikes but sees a need for increased regulation and awareness. That's why he introduced a resolution to direct the Joint State Government Committee to provide recommendations for an updated framework. Give better guidelines for PennDOT, for larger communications, for, you know, sellers, for folks trying to communicate. what is kind of the rule of the land. State Representative Jill Cooper introduced a bill in the House that would allow municipalities to adopt their own regulations for e-bikes. Local empowerment is very important because it's not of one side. It's all. Her bill would also increase fines for e-bikes from $10 to $50 and create a $100 minimum fine for careless e-bike operation resulting in bodily injury. In Harrisburg, I'm Haley O'Brien. WITF News.