Mavric Electric Cycles 'The Vibe' bike handlebar comes with LCD screen, odometer, 7-speed gear shifter and controls for how much boost the rider wants from the electric motor, photographed at Mavric Electric Cycles' warehouse space on July 14, 2023, in Phoenix.
San Diego, California – A 54-year-old woman riding an electric bicycle was seriously injured Saturday afternoon after colliding with a car while navigating a complex road merge in San Diego’s Talmadge neighborhood, raising renewed questions about the safety of e-bike riders on busy urban roads.
The crash occurred around 12:40 p.m. as the rider traveled northbound on Fairmount Avenue near the Montezuma Road merge. According to the San Diego Police Department, the woman exited the marked bike lane and entered an adjacent vehicle lane, striking the side mirror of a car driven by a 66-year-old man. The impact threw her from the bike. EMT’s transported her to a hospital with a fractured hip and wrist.
Police say alcohol was not a factor, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. It remains unclear what prompted the rider to leave the bike lane or how fast either party was traveling at the time of the crash.
Saturday’s collision adds to a growing list of accidents involving electric bikes on San Diego streets, reflecting a national trend as e-bikes continue to surge in popularity. Once considered a novelty, e-bikes now occupy a gray area between bicycles and motor vehicles — faster and heavier than a traditional pedal bike, but still governed by many of the same rules. That hybrid nature can be confusing for riders, motorists, and city planners alike.
