Finance professor at wharton, Itamar Dreschler, suffered a traumatic injury in an e-bike collision.
Photo Credit: Philadelphia Inquirer
By: Nicolas Scola
Itamar Dreschler, Professor of Finance at Wharton and Co-Director of the Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research, was hit by an e-bike in Norristown, Pennsylvania last June, suffering a traumatic injury which has sparked a broader dialogue regarding the safety of electric bicycles. He has since had to take a temporary leave of absence from teaching.
Dreschler was riding his conventional bicycle along the Schuylkill River Trail when he was hit. He was knocked unconscious upon impact and suffered a fractured vertebra and partially dissected artery in his neck. Even though it has been a few months since he was injured, Dreschler is still in a neck brace and requires the assistance of his family for everyday tasks.
According to the Official Website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, “E-bikes are allowed on trails already open to traditional bicycle usage as long as users follow guidelines consistent with the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code that e-bikes: a). Weigh no more than 100 pounds b). Do not exceed 20 miles-per-hour using the motor c). Have motors that do not exceed 750 watts and d). Have fully functional, operable pedals.”
It is unclear how fast the e-bike was traveling; however, the bike had a 3000 watt motor and was capable of reaching 50 miles per hour. The driver was not given a citation, sparking confusion from Dreschler who commented to Philadelphia Inquirer: “I don’t really understand.”
In August of 2025, three months after Dreschler was hit, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners passed an amendment to the County’s current policy regarding e-bikes, tripling fines for illegal e-bike usage. The updated regulation has also lowered the allowed functional speed for e-bikes from twenty miles per hour to fifteen.
Nicolas Scola is a Junior in Wharton and the College from Morristown, NJ. Nicolas is also the Executive Editor for The Pennsylvania Post. His email is nscola@wharton.upenn.edu.
