How young is too young for an e-bike?

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - E-bikes are becoming more popular, but there is growing concern with a number of crashes involving e-bikes, especially among younger users. That prompts the question, how young is too young to ride an e-bike?

Right now, New York State Trooper James O'Callaghan says there are no specific rules regarding e-bikes.

"You go with traffic, things like that. Some of these e-bikes go 25, 30, miles an hour, depending on if they modify them, but typically about 20 miles an hour. But it's for safety reasons to have some sort most of them come with some sort of flashing light front and back," said O'Callaghan in an interview with WBEN.

He does note depending on the age of the operator, they may not turn that on, or maybe they broke the light.

Locals we spoke with at the Erie County Fair say someone as young as 9-years-old should not be on an e-bike. What are their suggestions for an age minimum?

"I'd say 12-to-14," says one person, while another suggested 16, the same to drive a motor vehicle.

But O'Callaghan says the bigger issue is e-bike users being seen at night.

"If it's at night, are you properly lit? Can people see you? I have actually personally passed people riding e bikes that are in black clothing with minimal to no lighting," O'Callaghan said.

O'Callaghan says you have people of all ages doing it for exercise and for getting around. He adds e-bikes are getting cheaper, so people are buying them, but the fact that matter is they do go fast.