E-bike Injuries Surge 184 Percent on Western Slope

E-bike injuries in Colorado jumped 184% between 2024 and 2025. Children’s Hospital Colorado reported the spike. Locals on the Western Slope are seeing it too.

The High Country is drowning in electric pedal-assist bikes. They move fast. A young rider can hit 30 mph without breaking a sweat. The result is carnage on roads and trails. Unverified social media posts describe kids blowing through stop signs. They bounce off vehicles. They wind up in the ER.

Safety is the primary concern. Enforcement is the problem.

“We are seeing riders not following traffic laws, riding without helmets, and carrying multiple passengers in unsafe ways,” Eagle County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Karina Toscano wrote.

It’s not just theory. Deputy Justin Clayton says education has limits.

“There’s only so much education we can do,” Clayton said. “I don’t want to be writing tickets to 7-year-olds. Ultimately, it comes down to parents making sure their kids are riding safely and following the rules.”

That shifts the burden from the state to the kitchen table. Parents.

The Colorado Department of Transportation launched a campaign called “Go Safe Go Far.” Local groups joined in. The “Own the Ride” initiative includes Mountain Youth, local towns, law enforcement, the Eagle County School District, and Vail Health.

They’re pushing posters. Stickers. Social media videos. The goal is relatability, not scolding. Deputy Eagle County Manager Regina O’Brien said the strategy focuses on three things: proper helmet use, visibility, and speed management.

But education isn’t stopping the crashes.

Eagle County Sheriff’s Sgt. Heath Mosness says the laws haven’t kept up with the explosion in popularity. Tougher statewide laws may be needed.

State Sen. Dylan Roberts of Frisco hears it constantly. Constituents are raising the issue at town halls. Roberts held one in Eagle last week. The complaints are loud. The lack of regulation is louder.

The short version: The bikes are here. The laws are lagging. The injuries are rising.

Read that again. 184% increase. That’s not a trend. That’s a crisis.

Toscano encourages riders to obey traffic laws. She wants parents to talk to their kids. It’s a start. But when a bike propels a child at 30 mph, a talk might not be enough.

The community is trying to adapt. The “Own the Ride” campaign is youth-driven. It’s designed to be engaging. It’s trying to change behavior from the inside out.

But Mosness notes the speed of adoption. E-bikes took off quickly. The legal framework didn’t move at the same pace.

There’s a disconnect between the technology and the rules. We’re treating these like bicycles. They’re not. They’re motorized vehicles with different capabilities. Yet they share the road with pedal-pushers and cars.

The result is confusion. And crashes.

Clayton wants parents to step up. Roberts wants the state to listen. The hospitals are counting the bodies.

It’s worth watching how long it takes for the “Go Safe Go Far” campaign to bite. Or if we need a new law to force the issue.

The bikes aren’t going away. The roads are getting more dangerous. And the laws are still playing catch-up.