A study by UC San Francisco (UCSF) highlights a rise in injuries related to electric scooters (e-scooters) and electric bicycles (e-bikes) across the United States.
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The study found an increase in e-bicycle injuries, which rose from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022.
Hospitalizations related to e-bicycle accidents also surged from 66 in 2017 to 3,122 in 2022. This represents a 30-fold increase in injuries over the five-year period.
E-scooter injuries increased from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022. Hospitalizations rose from 791 in 2017 to 6,317 in 2022.
While the total number of conventional bicycle injuries remained high, the annual figures remained relatively stable with a slight fluctuation from 456,466 in 2017 to 403,565 in 2022.
Hospitalizations for regular bicycles increased from 46,127 in 2017 to 54,937 in 2022.
Conventional scooter injuries rose from 48,598 in 2017 to 67,497 in 2022 with hospitalizations increasing from 1,677 to 5,310.
E-bike and e-scooter riders were generally older than their conventional counterparts with a median age of 39 for e-bicyclists and 30 for e-scooter riders.
Younger individuals typically used traditional bikes and scooters with the median age of conventional scooter riders being just 11 years old.
Helmet usage was lower among electric vehicle users compared to those on conventional vehicles. Risky behaviors such as riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs were more prevalent among e-scooter and e-bike users.
Most micromobility injuries occurred in urban environments, where these vehicles are most commonly used for commuting and short trips.
E-scooter riders were more prone to internal injuries, whereas non-electric scooter riders frequently experienced upper extremity injuries.
The most common injuries involved the head, neck and upper extremities, with severe cases leading to neurological and orthopedic complications.
Brain trauma and internal injuries were frequently observed in e-scooter accidents.
The number of injuries from e-bikes has exponentially increased from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022. This represents a doubling of injuries every year over the five-year period.
E-scooter injuries have also seen a sharp rise increasing by 45% during the same timeframe. Injuries went from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022.
The median age of injured e-bike users is 39 years old, whereas conventional bike riders have a median age of 30 years.
E-scooter riders have a median age of 30 compared to 11 years for conventional scooter riders. E-bike and e-scooter riders are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as riding under the influence of alcohol and neglecting helmet use.
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E-Scooter Riders are more prone to internal injuries than those on conventional scooters. More likely to sustain upper extremity injuries such as those involving arms, wrists and hands.
Other injury types including neurological, head and orthopedic injuries show no difference between electric and conventional vehicle riders.
The findings likely underestimate the true number of injuries as some cases might be unreported, treated in environments outside emergency departments or misclassified in hospital records as conventional accidents.
A huge proportion of these accidents occur in urban settings, where micromobility is more prevalent. The rise in accidents correlates with the growing popularity of these vehicles, increased availability through ride-sharing platforms and their frequent use in city landscapes.
Between 2017 and 2022, conventional bikes and scooters recorded nearly 2.5 million injuries and over 300,000 injuries.
E-bikes and e-scooters accounted for nearly 46,000 and 190,000 injuries, respectively in the same period.
The boom in e-bike and e-scooter usage is driven by their low cost, convenience and eco-friendliness. With speeds of up to 28 miles per hour, these vehicles offer a practical alternative to cars, especially in congested urban areas.
Ride-sharing platforms have made these vehicles more accessible, increasing their presence on city streets and sidewalks.
The rapid adoption of e-scooters and e-bikes especially in urban areas, has outpaced the development of safety regulations and rider education programs.
Many riders lack experience and knowledge about safely operating these vehicles leading to accidents and injuries.
E-bike and e-scooter riders are more likely to engage in risky behaviors such as riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Speeding and reckless riding contribute to the rise in accidents, as these vehicles can reach speeds up to 28 miles per hour.
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