Electric Bike Buyback in Orange County Highlights Growing Safety Concerns
In a bid to address rising safety concerns, Orange County recently hosted its first e-bike buyback event, where residents could trade in their electric vehicles for gift cards. This initiative, led by the Orange County District Attorney’s office, unfolded at Angel Stadium, drawing hundreds eager to participate.
Jesse Hayes, a 20-year-old who sustained severe injuries in an e-bike accident nearly two years ago, was among the first to arrive. Despite spending three months on life support, Hayes still faces ongoing challenges, such as difficulty playing the guitar and reliance on a knee brace. His participation in the event was driven by a desire to highlight the risks associated with e-bike riding. “I want people to know these crashes happen a lot more than most people think, and how horrible they are,” Hayes stated.
The buyback event offered participants the chance to exchange e-bikes, e-motorcycles, e-scooters, and pocket bikes for gift cards valued up to $1,000, with the first 75 participants also receiving tickets to an Angels game. The county allocated $110,000 in gift cards, distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Many of the surrendered vehicles were Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, with speeds up to 20 mph, redeemable for $300 to $400 in gift cards.
Participants arrived early, including Amy Kaur and her teenage sons, who traveled from Fontana at 6 a.m. to be among the first in line. Similarly, Arsh and Harvin Singh, aged 15 and 13, sought to exchange their e-motos due to frequent accidents. Their friend, Jesse Guerrero, 11, recounted his own severe injuries from a high-speed crash, admitting the bike’s danger despite his attachment to it.
This buyback event comes in response to a surge in e-bike-related incidents across California. Data from the California Highway Patrol illustrates a significant rise in e-bike crashes, escalating from 48 in 2020 to 1,366 in 2025. Orange County alone reported 347 crashes in 2025, resulting in three fatalities. Experts, including Dr. Laura Goodman, pediatric surgeon at Rady Children’s Hospital, have identified e-bikes as a leading cause of trauma admissions, particularly affecting children aged 11 to 14.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer emphasized the critical nature of the issue, stating, “These vehicles are not child’s play, and the consequences are incredibly dangerous and increasingly deadly.” His office has intensified efforts against reckless riding, including prosecuting parents of minors involved in serious e-bike accidents and establishing a unit to investigate criminal charges.
Parents attending the event, like Krista Carrillo from Hawthorne, expressed a newfound awareness of the risks associated with e-bikes. Carrillo, who surrendered an e-bike purchased for her teenage daughter, acknowledged her lack of understanding about the potential dangers at the time of purchase.
As the conversation around e-bike safety continues to grow, events like this serve as crucial platforms for education and increased public awareness, aiming to foster a safer environment for riders and pedestrians alike.
Original Story at www.ocregister.com