E-Scooters and E-Bikes: A Growing Safety Concern

The number of injuries and hospitalizations related to electric bikes and scooters is on the rise in the United States, according to a recent study. Published in JAMA Network Open, the research reveals a staggering increase in e-bike injuries, which nearly doubled annually from 2017 to 2022, skyrocketing from 751 to an alarming 23,493 incidents. Meanwhile, e-scooter injuries saw a significant 45% rise in the same timeframe, jumping from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 by 2022.

Experts stress that these findings underscore the urgent need for targeted safety measures. “These findings are important as they highlight the need for targeted safety measures and further research to understand and mitigate the risks associated with the increasing use of e-vehicles,” explained Kevin D. Li, co-first author and dual candidate for medical and master’s degrees at the University of California San Francisco.

The popularity of electric bikes and scooters has surged in recent years, part of the so-called “micro-mobility movement.” This trend can be attributed to the convenience, cost-effectiveness, and environmental advantages these small, lightweight vehicles offer. There have been at least half a billion trips taken on these e-vehicles since 2010, with shared e-bike trips nearly doubling from 9.5 million in 2018 to an impressive 17 million in 2021, according to the National Association of City Transportation Officials.

So, what’s driving the rise in e-bike and e-scooter injuries? Here’s what the experts have to say on how you can ride safely.

Li and his colleagues analyzed emergency department data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They looked into various factors such as riders’ ages, types of injuries, helmet usage, and substance influence. The researchers discovered that injuries associated with these vehicles increased every year from 2017 to 2022. What’s more, they found that these incidents often stemmed from riskier behaviors, including alcohol use and lower rates