title: Unsafe riding practice among electric bikers in Suzhou, China: an observational study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Electric bike (E-bike)-related deaths have been increasing rapidly in China and such injuries may be partly attributable to unsafe riding practice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe potentially unsafe riding behaviours among electric bikers (E-bikers) and to investigate factors influencing these practices in China.
  
  
  METHODS
  In September 2012, a cross-sectional observation study including a speed measurement component was conducted in Wuzhong (an urban district) and Zhangjiagang (a rural district) of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. Hand-held radar speed metres were used to read travelling speeds of E-bikes and a pro forma observation checklist was used to collect data on road riding practice. Mixed-effect logistic regressions were used to calculate adjusted ORs and 95% CIs for the association between speeding, road rule violations and helmet use and their influencing factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 800 E-bikes with a speed reading, 70.9% exceeded the designed speed limit of 20 km/h. Among a further 20 647 E-bikers observed, 38.3% did not comply with the road rules when entering intersections; and only 2.2% wore helmets. No regional variation was identified between urban and rural areas. Male E-bikers were associated with more speeding and road rule violations, whereas riding a pedal-equipped E-bike was associated with less road rule violations and less helmet use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unsafe riding practices such as speeding, road rule violations and lack of helmet use were commonplace among E-bikers, especially among men. The study findings indicate that measures aimed at improving E-bike safety are required in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chronic Disease Control, Jiangsu Provincial Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yihe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Brent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Powis
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ozanne-Smith
authors.forename: Yilan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001642:Bicycling; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety
keywords: Behavior; Cross Sectional Study; Driver; Electric Bike; Risk Factor Research