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Parents Exchange Horror Stories As Doctor Pleads To Stop Buying Extremely Dangerous Gen Z Must‑Have
A doctor’s blunt warning to families who have been buying a popular item for their Gen Z kids has spiraled into a heartbreaking outpouring from parents.
A pediatric operating room surgeon, known as Cynlyn on TikTok, gave a painful reality check about buying e-bikes for kids.
Parents then began sharing horror stories of their own children having accidents, trauma, and even losing their lives in some tragic cases.
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Highlights
- A pediatric operating room surgeon, known as Cynlyn on TikTok, gave a painful reality check about buying e-bikes for kids.
- “Don’t buy your kid an e-bike,” she declared without an ounce of hesitation in her voice.
- Her video pushed parents to share horror stories of their own children having accidents, trauma, and even losing their lives in some tragic cases.
A doctor’s blunt warning to families buying a popular item for kids has spiraled into a heartbreaking outpouring from parents
Image credits: cynlyn28 / TikTok
In a video that’s garnered 21.2 million views on TikTok, Cynlyn spoke about how e-bikes were way too dangerous for kids to be riding.
“Don’t buy your kid an e-bike,” she declared without any hesitation in her voice.
“If I could give parents any piece of advice right now, it would be ‘Don’t get an e-bike for your child.’”
Image credits: cynlyn28 / TikTok
The doctor urged parents to ensure their children wear helmets when riding.
“The consequences to e-bike accidents are life-changing and de*dly. And honestly, kids should not be riding them. Or at the very minimum, they should be wearing a helmet,” she went on to say.
“So please, just don’t buy them.”
“The consequences to e-bike accidents are life-changing and de*dly,” Cynlyn said in her viral TikTok video
Image credits: cynlyn28 / TikTok
Her warning instantly struck a chord online among parents, medical professionals, and others.
“Trauma nurse here, 10000000000% agree… we’ve had so many devastating brain injuries that young kids are never going to recover from,” one said.
Image credits: cynlyn28 / TikTok
Another wrote, “As an adult driver in a neighborhood of ebikes…. NO, YOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT READY FOR THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY.”
“We just lost a middle schooler a few weeks ago, the community is devastated,” said one. “The driver was a teenager, his life too will be forever altered, but in a different way.”
“As a funeral director, DO NOT let your child on an e bike. Ever,” one commented online
Image credits: Uriel Mont / Pexels
One parent shared a heartbreaking story of her son suffering Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
“My son passed away 3 months ago due to complications from the TBI he got while riding an e-scooter 3 years ago,” the parent said.
The son initially survived.
“He worked so hard to learn to walk, talk, socialize, all the things again. I thought we were in the clear… and then he was gone,” the parent continued. “I do not wish this pain on any parent. Please make your children wear motorcycle-grade helmets if they are riding electric scooters or bikes. Please.”
Image credits: Tima Miroshnichenko / Pexels
Sales for e-bike sales went up from 50,000 in 2018 to 527,000 in 2022, according to data provided by a market research firm called Circana. Projections also expect the US e-bike market to grow from roughly $4.4bn in 2026 to more than $6.2bn by 2031.
But e-bikes are increasingly becoming associated with life-altering injuries and fatalities.
“I see [an e-vehicle injury] every single day,” Dr. Ashley Pfaff, a trauma and critical care surgeon at Bellevue Hospital in New York, told City Journal last year, as quoted by The Guardian.
Image credits: M.Emin BİLİR / Pexels
According to the transportation department, New York City reported 901 e-bike injuries in the year 2025, a 41% increase from 2024.
Two towns in California declared a state of emergency after the surge in the number of fatal crashes involving e-bikes.
Meanwhile, in Tampa Bay, Florida, doctors are experiencing a “paradigm shift in what we do in emergency medicine” after the number of patients being admitted for injuries from e-bikes, a local pediatrician and emergency room physician previously told a local news outlet.
At least 28 people lost their lives in e-bike crashes over the last five years in Tampa Bay.
A trauma and critical care surgeon said they see at least one e-vehicle-related injury every single day
Image credits: Alimurat Üral / Pexels
Lawmakers have been pushing to increase awareness and improve infrastructure for the safety of e-bike riders and others using other modes of transport.
“When we think about e-bike crashes and deaths related to e-bikes, the vast majority are cars and trucks killing people on e-bikes as opposed to people on e-bikes injuring somebody else,” Alexa Sledge, director of communications for Transportation Alternatives, told The Guardian.
Image credits: Stephen Andrews / Pexels
Transportation Alternatives is an organization that works to make streets safer for New Yorkers.
“What we really want to see is an improved and expanded infrastructure to protect people that are biking, protect people that are walking and make sure that there are different protected areas for all types of transportation,” Sledge added.
Several viewers shared their own horror stories of people having e-bike accidents
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What do you think ?
Apatheist 1 week ago
It's very simple. Convince your kids that nothing is ever "must-have" or "must-see". Doing your own thing is cooler than following the herd.
Scott Rackley 1 week ago (edited)
Or, hear me out, just don't buy them. No explanation or convincing is necessary. Yeah, that may be in "because I said so" territory, but that will get them used to doing dumb s**t their boss says "because he said so".
Load More Replies...
Laura MG 1 week ago
Kids do not need an e-bike, kids need a regular bike that they have to pedal themselves and get some exercise. I have an e-bike myself but I'm 70 years old, have heart disease, and can't pedal a regular bike anymore, especially uphill.
Pawsome 1 week ago
Exactly! A bike is perfectly useful and enjoyable without extra assistance. It's good for their health and far less dangerous. E-bikes are useful as well but I fail to see why a kid should have one
Load More Replies...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
It's not even just the kids who are getting hurt, either. Where I live, in a touristy beach town, so many children have e-bikes. A lot of them ride like maniacs, and there have been a few déaths of pedestrians and normal-bicycle cyclists that the kids on e-bikes have basically mowed down at top speed/ran into because the kids can't control their bikes when they're speeding along at 25 MPH. So it's not just the kids who are at risk, it's everyone else as well.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 1 week ago (edited)
I utterly loathe e-bikes primarily because everyone I see riding them does so at like 30mph down the crowded highstreet
JL 1 week ago
It's not the e-bike, it's the lack of training and preparation before letting your kid get on one. Some of us grew up with dirt bike and mopeds but since we took precautions and understood proper safety operation, we were fine. Also, pedaling a normal bike at top speed is close to the top e-bike speed, so again it all comes down to making sure the kids are using them responsibly.
J. Maxx 1 week ago
From Google: The top speed of an e-bike depends on its class. Street-legal electric bikes are capped between 20 mph and 28 mph, depending on local laws. However, custom-built performance e-bikes can reach speeds exceeding 50 mph. I don't know of too many 12 year olds who are peddling their bikes at 20 mph let alone 28 or 50 mph.
Load More Replies...
Big Chungus 1 week ago
We have lost a couple of teens in our area on e-bikes. They just drive right onto the street and get hit. It's really just so sad.
Laura Gillette 6 days ago
Is it because e-bikes can go so much faster than regular bikes that make them more dangerous? Or is this only for the e-bikes that can go without needing any pedaling, essentially making them mopeds? I have an e-bike, but it won't go unless I'm pedaling, and I mainly use the higher settings on the motor to help me get up hills. I think there are 6 "speeds" for assisted pedaling on it, but I'm generally at level 1 and only go to level 2 for getting up hills. Level 3 makes me go too fast and it's scary. I feel like kids. even being on regular bikes is still pretty dangerous, especially if they are riding on busier roads, even in bike lanes, because most bike lanes are unprotected. I mean, adult cyclists get k****d by cars too. And EVERYONE should ALWAYS wear a helmet! I get so mad when I see anyone, but especially a kid, without one.
Skywitness 1 week ago
My son has a motorized skate board. The top speed is around 20 mph. It is probably dangerous too but he's 32 years old and wears a very sturdy helmet. When it's dark, he's lit up like a Christmas tree. He's the same person who usually failed to wear his helmet when he rode a bike to high school.
marianne eliza 1 week ago
Won't be long now until real humans are just like the big, fat, immobile, people from WALL-E. And the planet is just as trashed.
Perseverantloser 1 week ago
I watched someone go flying over the handlebars and ended up brain d**d.
Chris England 1 week ago
Children cannot drive motor vehicles until they are 17(UK). I cant see why ebikes or scooters are treated differently
Murdock Schlegel 1 week ago
I think it really depends on the ebike. In Europe for example there is something called a Pedelec. Max Speed is 25kmh which is about 15 mph and it only supports you when you use your pedals. This one you are allowed to use 15 or older. To use anything else (Bikes that actually work like motorcycles) or faster you need a drivers licence. Another important point is having secure bike lanes.
KelsL 1 week ago
Maybe laws havent kept up with technology because none of the geezers with power are tech literate enough to care? Or perhaps they are so removed from parenthood that the risks are meaningless to them.
Marnie 1 week ago
I'm responding about the US here. I think that may be part of it, but I think there is another piece. Technology moves at a faster and faster pace, and laws have always lagged behind. But because the tech is moving so fast, the lag is even worse. Also, right now in the US, Republicans are mostly trying to implement Project 2025 and not actually just trying to make things better for people. I think that affects some states far more than others, but there just isn't a lot of actual helpful bills being passed the last 10 years.
Load More Replies... Apatheist 1 week ago
It's very simple. Convince your kids that nothing is ever "must-have" or "must-see". Doing your own thing is cooler than following the herd.
Scott Rackley 1 week ago (edited)
Or, hear me out, just don't buy them. No explanation or convincing is necessary. Yeah, that may be in "because I said so" territory, but that will get them used to doing dumb s**t their boss says "because he said so".
Load More Replies... Laura MG 1 week ago
Kids do not need an e-bike, kids need a regular bike that they have to pedal themselves and get some exercise. I have an e-bike myself but I'm 70 years old, have heart disease, and can't pedal a regular bike anymore, especially uphill.
Pawsome 1 week ago
Exactly! A bike is perfectly useful and enjoyable without extra assistance. It's good for their health and far less dangerous. E-bikes are useful as well but I fail to see why a kid should have one
Load More Replies... LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 week ago
It's not even just the kids who are getting hurt, either. Where I live, in a touristy beach town, so many children have e-bikes. A lot of them ride like maniacs, and there have been a few déaths of pedestrians and normal-bicycle cyclists that the kids on e-bikes have basically mowed down at top speed/ran into because the kids can't control their bikes when they're speeding along at 25 MPH. So it's not just the kids who are at risk, it's everyone else as well.
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 1 week ago (edited)
I utterly loathe e-bikes primarily because everyone I see riding them does so at like 30mph down the crowded highstreet
JL 1 week ago
It's not the e-bike, it's the lack of training and preparation before letting your kid get on one. Some of us grew up with dirt bike and mopeds but since we took precautions and understood proper safety operation, we were fine. Also, pedaling a normal bike at top speed is close to the top e-bike speed, so again it all comes down to making sure the kids are using them responsibly.
J. Maxx 1 week ago
From Google: The top speed of an e-bike depends on its class. Street-legal electric bikes are capped between 20 mph and 28 mph, depending on local laws. However, custom-built performance e-bikes can reach speeds exceeding 50 mph. I don't know of too many 12 year olds who are peddling their bikes at 20 mph let alone 28 or 50 mph.
Load More Replies... Big Chungus 1 week ago
We have lost a couple of teens in our area on e-bikes. They just drive right onto the street and get hit. It's really just so sad.
Laura Gillette 6 days ago
Is it because e-bikes can go so much faster than regular bikes that make them more dangerous? Or is this only for the e-bikes that can go without needing any pedaling, essentially making them mopeds? I have an e-bike, but it won't go unless I'm pedaling, and I mainly use the higher settings on the motor to help me get up hills. I think there are 6 "speeds" for assisted pedaling on it, but I'm generally at level 1 and only go to level 2 for getting up hills. Level 3 makes me go too fast and it's scary. I feel like kids. even being on regular bikes is still pretty dangerous, especially if they are riding on busier roads, even in bike lanes, because most bike lanes are unprotected. I mean, adult cyclists get k****d by cars too. And EVERYONE should ALWAYS wear a helmet! I get so mad when I see anyone, but especially a kid, without one.
Skywitness 1 week ago
My son has a motorized skate board. The top speed is around 20 mph. It is probably dangerous too but he's 32 years old and wears a very sturdy helmet. When it's dark, he's lit up like a Christmas tree. He's the same person who usually failed to wear his helmet when he rode a bike to high school.
marianne eliza 1 week ago
Won't be long now until real humans are just like the big, fat, immobile, people from WALL-E. And the planet is just as trashed.
Perseverantloser 1 week ago
I watched someone go flying over the handlebars and ended up brain d**d.
Chris England 1 week ago
Children cannot drive motor vehicles until they are 17(UK). I cant see why ebikes or scooters are treated differently
Murdock Schlegel 1 week ago
I think it really depends on the ebike. In Europe for example there is something called a Pedelec. Max Speed is 25kmh which is about 15 mph and it only supports you when you use your pedals. This one you are allowed to use 15 or older. To use anything else (Bikes that actually work like motorcycles) or faster you need a drivers licence. Another important point is having secure bike lanes.
KelsL 1 week ago
Maybe laws havent kept up with technology because none of the geezers with power are tech literate enough to care? Or perhaps they are so removed from parenthood that the risks are meaningless to them.
Marnie 1 week ago
I'm responding about the US here. I think that may be part of it, but I think there is another piece. Technology moves at a faster and faster pace, and laws have always lagged behind. But because the tech is moving so fast, the lag is even worse. Also, right now in the US, Republicans are mostly trying to implement Project 2025 and not actually just trying to make things better for people. I think that affects some states far more than others, but there just isn't a lot of actual helpful bills being passed the last 10 years.
Load More Replies...
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