Orange County holds e-bike buyback program to address rising injuries

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office organized a first-of-its-kind buyback program in Anaheim, California, where residents traded in more than 1,000 e-bikes, e-motorcycles, and similar electric two-wheeled vehicles. Participants received gift cards worth up to $1,000 in exchange for the vehicles, which were subsequently crushed.

Spearheaded by District Attorney Todd Spitzer, the initiative follows a significant rise in injuries and fatalities linked to high-powered electric bikes. The district attorney’s office reported that injuries in Southern California have increased by 430% over the last four years, with many incidents involving underage riders. Spitzer has also filed felony criminal charges against parents who allow underage children to operate these high-powered vehicles.

To address these safety concerns, the office established the ‘Ride Safely’ E-Bike/E-Motorcycle Prosecution Unit in May. National data from the American College of Surgeons indicates that over 20,000 people are injured annually in the U.S. while riding e-bikes, with approximately 3,000 requiring hospitalization.