Opinion

Trust your children with e-bikes before it’s too late

10.6.2025

Translation: Megan Cornish

When it comes to e-bike regulations, Switzerland’s more cautious than the rest of Europe. Everywhere else, children are legally allowed to ride at an earlier age without the world collapsing. I don’t understand why that doesn’t work here.

I was in Germany recently. We were walking along a riverbank and stepped aside because a group of cyclists wanted to overtake. A family buzzed by: father, mother and son, maybe 11 years old. All three slim, athletic – and on e-bikes. «Why’s he allowed to do that?» my son asks – slightly indignantly – staring at the boy. «Different countries, different rules,» I replied, knowing that, in Switzerland, it’s only permitted from the age of 16 up to 25 km/h. Or from 14 with a moped licence.

I knew that Austria’s liberal when it comes to e-bikes for children. In rule-obsessed Germany, I’m surprised they’re just considered bicycles. What’s the situation in other countries? I looked it up and was soon amazed that our lawmakers have by far the least confidence in children.

In France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, you’re free to ride whatever your age. In some cases, there are sensible additions, such as mandatory helmets or accompanying children under 12. Only the UK sets the limit at 14. That makes a product like the one below – ranked 39th among e-bikes on Galaxus – only interesting for trips abroad.

Adore E-bike for children 24" aluminium kids city bike KS-240 rear motor 30NM / 10.4Ah ice blue matt (30 cm)

Electric bikes

CHF1114.–

Adore E-bike for children 24" aluminium kids city bike KS-240 rear motor 30NM / 10.4Ah ice blue matt

30 cm

I realise that e-bikes and children don’t seem like a good fit at first glance. Safety experts advise against it. Of course they do. As a safety expert, I’d do the same. No six-year-old should ride a motorised bicycle to school. No ten-year-old should be let loose on main roads alone. Children won’t be protected by law any time soon from careless parents who think this is a good idea. But young people who aren’t trusted are in an unenviable position too.

No debate, no horror headlines

Yes, e-bikes are heavy – and harder to control. They accelerate faster and maintain higher speeds for longer. And the ability to correctly assess traffic only develops during childhood. For some, it’s a little earlier, for others a little later. But away from cities and villages, there’s plenty of space to gain initial experience on rides. It all depends on the frame, and it should be designed to take environment and parents’ assessments into account.

Which rule is best for this family on an e-bike tour?
Source: Shutterstock/JRP Studio

Several hundred million people in Europe have the option to send their children out on the road on e-bikes. I haven’t found any horror headlines about accidents involving children as a result. Heated debates? Not a peep. Presumably, the market will regulate this – e-bikes for children aren’t in demand as everyday bikes anyway.

In the US, slightly more powerful e-bikes (Class 1 & 2 up to 20 mph, approximately 32 km/h) are legal for children in many states. According to this study, the risk of children ending up in hospital is 11.5 per cent higher than on standard bikes. However, the study found 3,945 injuries on e-bikes compared to 2.05 million injuries in «normal» bicycle accidents. This is still a problem, but a comparatively rare one.

Liberal rules – with one exception

Here in Switzerland, the Federal Council updated the rules for non-motorised traffic at its meeting on 13 December 2024. The proposal (in German) to lower the minimum age for slow e-bikes to 12 under adult supervision for the sake of tourism was disregarded (article in German). They will continue to be classified as «light motorcycles». My colleague Lorenz Keller has summarised what will apply from 1 July 2025 here.

Background information
New electric motor scooter rules: how fast can you ride and how many passengers are you allowed?
by Lorenz Keller

His conclusion: « Switzerland imposes few restrictions, with many things remaining permitted». And one thing remains forbidden: e-bikes are completely prohibited for anyone under 14. What a shame. In this respect, Switzerland’s nowhere near as liberal as the rest of Europe – and that has consequences.

The young ride downhill, the old ride e-bikes

When I’m out on my (non-motorised) mountain bike, I observe what the sales figures of the past few years show: adults have massively upgraded, especially middle-aged men pedalling past me on e-mountain bikes. Alone or in groups, but rarely with their families. The younger ones hop on gondolas and ride downhill.

There’s only one thing left for a group e-bike tour: to boost tourism in neighbouring countries. I think it would be smart if 12-year-olds could have this experience here. For me, it’s not just about the fun aspect of leisure time. It’s also about the opportunity to slowly establish the e-bike as an everyday vehicle, and I’d rather that be accompanied.

A one or two-year head start on other motorised vehicles would be nice. And a course during the holidays would be the perfect introduction. After passing their moped test, 14-year-olds usually have completely different things on their minds: e-scooters or 120-kilogramme «lightweight motorcycles» like this one.

E-scooters (seated)

CHF2490.–

Esomoto 6.0 S

20 km/h, 500 W

The current regulations primarily ensure that e-bikes remain a preserve of adults. That only active children ride bikes, while increasing numbers of young people abandon them altogether. The report on the mobility of children, adolescents and young adults states: «Bicycle use has declined sharply and continuously across all purposes since 1994 – across all age groups».

In 2021, e-bikes accounted for a full seven per thousand of everyday journeys among 14 to 20-year-olds. Anyone who’s been discouraged for so long is no longer interested. Allowing a little more risk in this regard and adapting the rules for e-bikes would have been worthwhile, in my opinion. What’s your take on this?

E-bikes for children

At what age should they be allowed?

There should be no age restriction.
27%
From 12 years accompanied.
42%
From 16 or 14 with a Category M driving licence.
31%

The competition has ended.

Header image: Shutterstock / JRP Studio

33 people like this article

Michael Restin

Senior Editor

Michael.Restin@digitecgalaxus.ch

Simple writer and dad of two who likes to be on the move, wading through everyday family life. Juggling several balls, I'll occasionally drop one. It could be a ball, or a remark. Or both.

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