E-Bike Crash Survivor Fights for Safety

0:00A 14-year-old kid on an electric bike, going about 25 miles per hour, crashed into Janet Staco during her evening walk in Minnesota, leaving her with severe brain injuries, a broken facial bone, and a busted eardrum. She ended up on a ventilator for two days, spent three weeks in the hospital, and needed brain surgery, but beat the odds and pulled through. Nowfully recovered, Staco was speaking out at doctor visits and pushing hard for tougher e-bike laws to stop this from happening to others. E-bikes are blowing up as a green, cheap ride option, but injuries are skyrocketing. Studies show rider crashes nearly doubled yearly from 20. 17-22 and kid injuries jump 300% in one city over four years. Folks are reacting big time, with health experts and surgeons calling for better rules, since federal law treats most e-bikes like regular bikes. No. License, no insurance, no helmet required. States are stepping up though, like New York City capping speeds at 15 miles per hour.

1:04Connecticut demanding helmets and licenses for powerful. Ones and Florida-Iing limits near walkers. Riders need to know the classes, class 1 and 2 top out at 20 miles per hour with pedal assist or throttle, class 3 hits 28 width. Pedaling, but faster e-motos can touch 40 and face motorcycle rules. Say, check your bike specs, wear helmets, maybe even motorcycle ones, stick to pass, use lights and don't mop for speed, parents and sure kids. Master regular bikes first. Meanwhile, police cited the teen for riding under age, but no charges came for stucco's injuries, fueling her drive for real accountability as these. Safety talks keep rolling nationwide. I'm Cory with the story, that's your Hartford News today update, AI powered and always on.