E-bikes are becoming a serious everyday transport option across Europe. They extend comfortable riding distance, make hills and wind easier to handle, and open cycling to people who might use a conventional bicycle less often.
The European Road Safety Charter notes that conventional bicycles are still used more frequently, but e-bike use is growing quickly. A key distinction is between regular pedelecs assisting up to 25 km/h and speed pedelecs assisting up to 45 km/h.
In 2023, 1,918 cyclists were killed in Europe, and around 16 percent of cyclist deaths involved pedelec riders. That share is likely incomplete because not every country separates conventional bicycles and e-bikes clearly in crash data.
Age also matters. Riders aged 65 and over face a considerably higher fatality risk while cycling. An e-bike can support active mobility, but higher average speed and a heavier bicycle require better infrastructure and habits.
The safety measures are practical: physically separated bike lanes, lower speeds where traffic mixes, helmet use, better visibility, safer intersections and less distraction. These are the elements that turn e-bikes from an added risk into a useful everyday mobility tool.