I’m a bit conflicted—honestly, I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all answer. I have three boys. My oldest is already driving and kind of missed the whole electric bike/scooter era. My 15-year-old has had an electric skateboard for the past two years and absolutely loves it—it’s given him a real sense of freedom. However we will not allow him to get an ebike, feel like he would be more reckless on it. And my youngest actually bought an electric bike with his own money but ended up selling it because all of his friend’s are way faster so his wasn’t cool enough. Fine by me!

In the end, I really think it depends on the kid and their level of responsibility. Some thrive with that kind of freedom, and others might not be ready. We’ve always raised our kids kind of like ‘80s kids—lots of independence and room to explore—so I tend to lean toward trusting them, but with clear expectations and boundaries.