Safe e-biking in old age: Free courses for seniors in Lauterbach!

Safe e-biking in old age: Free courses for seniors in Lauterbach!

In recent years, Pedelecs and e-bikes have become increasingly popular, especially among older people. Cycling not only has health benefits, such as training the heart and lungs, building muscles and promoting balance, but also offers the opportunity for active mobility in everyday life. However, there are also challenges, especially for seniors who want to switch to e-bikes. Accidents and uncertainties when dealing with the new technology are common problems.

In order to increase safety on two wheels, various organizations offer free Pedelec/E-Bike courses for seniors (55+). On August 23rd, those interested can take part in such a course in Lauterbach, which is organized by Dominic Günther, an experienced exercise coordinator, in cooperation with TV Lauterbach and the Lauterbach Senior Citizens' Advisory Council. This initiative is part of the project “Exercise in old age – safe in everyday life”, which is funded by the ARGE GKV-Alliance for Health in Hesse.

Course specific details

The courses take place in the schoolyard of the Eichbergschule in Lauterbach. There are two time periods: the first course runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the second from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 10 seniors per course, which enables individual support. Those interested must register by August 8th and provide their name, contact details and desired course time. Please remember that participation is at your own risk, your own bike is required and helmets are required.

The course content covers basic techniques, such as a bike check or understanding the various functions of e-bikes. The program also includes practical exercises for starting, stopping and dealing with difficult situations. The aim is to promote fall prevention and increase road safety for seniors. These activities are crucial because older people are statistically at particular risk of being involved in accidents.

Accident statistics and safety

According to a study, the number of Pedelec accidents in Germany is worrying. Statistics from the Federal Statistical Office show that accidents resulting in personal injury increased from 2,245 in 2014 to 17,285 in 2021. What is particularly alarming is that 132 people died in an e-bike accident in 2021 alone. Compared to non-motorized bicycles, Pedelec accidents are often fatal. While the number of Pedelec riders over 65 who had accidents fell from 54.5 percent in 2014 to 33.5 percent in 2021, a third of accident victims from this age group remain overrepresented in the overall population.

A tragic incident illustrates how serious the situation is: A senior citizen was seriously injured when a minibus carelessly drove out of a driveway and blocked her path. She reacted too late and crashed into the car, resulting in hospitalization with serious injuries, including a broken collarbone and a traumatic brain injury. This underscores the urgency of familiarizing seniors not only with the devices, but also with the situations they will encounter in traffic.

The initiative to promote safety for seniors on e-bikes is not only sensible, but necessary. In Hessian cities and communities, people are not only reacting to the increase in the use of e-bikes, but are also actively working to reduce the risk of accidents. The ADAC also offers special training courses for new drivers, occasional drivers and frequent drivers, which teach everything you need to know about road safety. These training courses are intended to help raise awareness of possible dangers and improve general driving skills.

Now is the perfect time for all interested seniors to find out about these offers and actively work on their safety on two wheels. Secure your place in one of the courses and enjoy cycling to the fullest - safely and with fun.

Further information about the free Pedelec/E-Bike courses can be found here: deutscherpresseindex.de. The ADAC offers detailed information on the subject of driving safety training at adac.de to. The accident statistics and safety situation for older people are also up linexo.de described in detail.