ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – In St. Johns County, e-bike incidents have skyrocketed, with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office reporting 20 cases in just the first five months of 2025 compared to only eight incidents throughout all of 2024. The trend raises concerns about safety on the roads, particularly as e-bikes become more popular.
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In 2024, SJSO responded to a total of eight incidents involving e-bikes. Out of these, six were classified as crashes, while two were hit-and-run incidents.
The situation escalated in 2025, with the SJSO responding to 20 incidents involving e-bikes by June 11. Of these, 18 were crashes, one involved a DUI, and another was a hit-and-run.
Combining both years, 17 incidents were reported that involved a collision between an e-bike and a vehicle. The second highest category of incidents, also combining both years, involved e-bikes losing control, highlighting a critical area for safety improvements.
One St. Johns County resident named Ginger Murphy expressed her concerns about e-bike safety.
“I don’t want to be a fun killer,” Murphy said. “There’s the obvious things you should do [like] watching your speed.”
Murphy used to work at Sheppard Center Atlanta and retired in 2023. She said she remembers all too well having conversations with parents after their child had brain and spinal injuries.
“It was really sad to see what those families went through, especially in accidents like that,” Murphy said.
She said e-bikes were something she saw coming from a long way.
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“I’ve seen them, when I’m mowing my lawn, I’ve almost got cooked on the sidewalk,” Murphy said.
She is also a grandparent and thinks about the safety of her own family as well as others on e-bikes.
“I thought immediately that they just don’t have the quick decision making, really handle a 20-28 mph vehicle. That’s why we don’t give them driver’s licenses until they’re 15 or 16,” she said.
Adding to these concerns, Wolfson Children’s Hospital reported a staggering 222% increase in patients with injuries related to e-bike or e-scooter accidents from 2023 to 2024.
Based on data from the first five months of 2025, the hospital projects that the number of e-bike or e-scooter injuries will double compared to 2024. The hospital emphasizes the importance of helmet safety, stating, “A properly fitted helmet is a simple, powerful way to stay safe.”
In light of these statistics, state lawmakers are actively discussing potential solutions to improve e-bike safety regulations. As reported by News4JAX, there is a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive safety measures to protect both e-bike riders and other road users.
With the number of crashes increasing in the area, SJSO alerted the community that they are increasing their enforcement of e-bikes and motor scooters.
