Stuttgart electric
bicycles are an attractive option for many older people to stay mobile. But you
should be particularly careful when entering - because your risk of accidents
is higher than with others.
According to the
expert organization Dekra, older users of electric bicycles have a particularly
high risk of serious falls. The reasons are that seniors have often not been on
a normal bicycle for a long time and consequently they lack exercise. Also, the
acceleration performance of bicycles with electric motor assistance is often
underestimated, and not only by seniors explains Dekra accident researcher
Luigi Ancona.
Also, there are
declining abilities in eyesight, sense of balance, and ability to react. Also,
older cyclists injured themselves more quickly and, above all, more severely
than younger ones.
In general, but
all the more important for older pedelec riders, it is to ride with foresight
and consideration and wear a helmet. Reflective clothing or a high visibility vest will help other people see you in the
dark.
Sales of e-bikes
have been growing for years and, according to industry information, increased
again during the corona pandemic. One possible explanation is that many people
- including older people - use it as an alternative to bus and train in times
of Sars-CoV-2 because of the lower risk of infection.
According to the
Federal Statistical Office, 72 percent of the pedelec drivers killed in road
traffic in 2019 were 65 years of age or older.
