Concerns grow over reckless e-bike riders on Atlanta BeltLine

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Electric bikes are booming in popularity, partially fueled by a city rebate program that has attracted around 9,000 applications.

As the number of people riding on e-bikes continues to climb, others have expressed concern about the risks they pose for people on paths.

Ben Halpern regularly roller skates around the BeltLine. On Saturday afternoon, he nearly crashed into an e-bike.

“All of a sudden boom, here comes an e-bike,” Halpern said. “I have to do something crazy to stop myself and avoid hitting them.”

The Atlanta native isn’t the only one revved up, as Carlos Verdejo also experienced a close call while walking with his wife Rondia.

“The biker was trying to avoid us and hit a stack of other bikes that were parked,” he said. “She wasn’t paying attention and it’s getting too crowded for those type of electric bikes.”

According to the City of Atlanta, e-bikes are only allowed to ride 20 miles per hour on shared-use paths.

Zach Gattrell frequently runs on the BeltLine and has never seen a sign indicating this speed limit.

“When there’s a big group of people going one way and another big group of people going the other way, e-bikes are trying to weave in and out,” he said. “A lot of people are getting close to being hit.”

Even though e-bikes are quiet, environmentally friendly and arguably the fastest way to ride around; some don’t believe they belong on the BeltLine.

“There are trails that are no bike zones and no scooter zones,” Gattrell said. “Maybe we just make the BeltLine one of those.”

“I think there should be a different park for those electric bikes,” Verdejo concluded. “Because folks are coming here with their kids, family, pets and it’s getting too crowded.”

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