Energy Electric Bikes - Gearing towards E-Bike Safety

from Beaches COVERED. Issue 32 - Autumn 2023 - Freedom Hunters

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When you see a duo of wet suited teenagers hooning towards the surf in tandem on an E-Bike, it evokes equal parts joy and fear. Local business Owners, Michelle and West Ashton from Energy Electric Bikes, and local politician, James Griffin MP, Member for Manly and Liberal Candidate for Wakehurst, Toby Williams, talk about how we can gear towards a greener, safer, two-wheeled future.

They’re fast becoming a Beaches’ phenomenon, and it’s not hard to see why. E-Bikes have become so popular in recent years thanks to their effortless and eco-friendly nature.

Michelle Ashton is the Owner of Energy Electric Bikes in Brookvale and an expert when it comes to electric bikes.

“Our vision was always for E-Bikes to give more people the ability to ride around Northern Beaches’ hilly terrain with ease, allowing them the freedom to explore their beautiful backyard without relying on their cars,” says Michelle.

The list of pros for an E-Bike is long; efﬁcient, economical and seriously cool, they keep people active, and you’ll never have to worry about peak time parking again. There is a lot to love; however, one growing concern is the safety surrounding younger riders.

“We have an awesome E-Bike community and we’ve seen it grow very quickly,” says Michelle. “But what was an adult luxury has become a must-have accessory for all ages and herein lies the problem.

“You only have to drive 10 minutes before you see a teenager ﬁring along. We are seeing lots of kids going way too fast on roads, doubling up and not wearing a helmet. We love the freedom and fun young riders are having, but we are deeply concerned about the possibility of accidents to themselves and pedestrians.

So, what can we all do to prevent an accident that feels like it’s waiting to happen?

“The increasing number of young riders without a helmet needs addressing, and we are always looking at ways to encourage riders to wear a helmet. One thing we have implemented is a ‘No Helmet, No Service’ policy,” explains Michelle.

Energy Electric Bikes have partnered with Thousand, an American helmet distributor, who have created a stylish vintage helmet that meets Australian Standards. It has become hugely popular with riders of all ages.

“There is nothing cool about a head injury,” urges Michelle. “We are encouraging the community to set an example and wear a helmet and signiﬁcantly improve your chances of a good outcome should you have an accident.”

**JAMES GRIFFIN, MP, MEMBER FOR MANLY, T OBY WILLIAMS AND MICHELLE ASTON FROM ENERGY ELECTRIC BIKES**

POLITICIANS BACK E-BIKE SAFETY

Michelle’s sentiments on safety are thoroughly supported by James Grifﬁn and Toby Williams. The Liberal candidates back her crusade towards safety, and their message is clear. “Kids, wear your helmet!”

“It is not the failure of the seller, but the responsibility of the parent and the rider,” says James Grifﬁn, MP for Manly.

“From a government perspective, we will keep up wherever we can to encourage safe practice to keep momentum on this economic and environmentally viable movement. I’ll say it again, wear a helmet!”

On the other side of the coin, there are several positive factors that come out of kids riding E-Bikes around beaches.

“We do see the number of young riders as hugely positive,” explains Michelle. “Keeping teenagers socially connected

and active is important and children that cycle to school are likely to have improved mental health and more independence.

Wearing a bike helmet greatly reduces the risk of head injuries... Studies have found an 88% reduction in the risk of head injury. Around 47% of injured riders suffer from head injuries, JAMES GRIFFIN, MP, MEMBER FOR MANLY

“The community also beneﬁts from reduced trafﬁc, especially around highly congested school zones where students are opting to ride. Kids have more freedom and can travel independently to sport or work which gives parents a break too. We would love to see the council create better lanes for bikes so pedestrians and cyclists can commute safely together.”

James and Toby share Michelle’s passion for promoting the wholesome mode of transport in a positive and safe way and keeping kids on the beaches outdoors, doing what they love, safely.

“It is about striking the right balance. We want to keep people safe without over-regulating. Ultimately, we want to get people out of their cars so we need to pull the reins in on unsafe practices regarding E-Bikes. If we focus on education, it will be beneﬁcial all round,” says Toby Williams, candidate for Wakehurst.

So, let’s all do our bit as a community and encourage each other to ride safely and wear a helmet so E-Bikes can continue to be enjoyed along our beautiful beaches. •