Introduction
The rise in popularity of electric bicycles (e-bikes) and electric scooters (e-scooters), commonly referred to as micromobility devices, has been meteoric. Their convenience, affordability, and the fun factor they offer have made them a preferred mode of transportation for many. However, this surge in popularity has raised concerns about safety.
The Growth of E-bikes and E-scooters
Between 2018 and 2022, the sales of e-bikes soared from approximately 250,000 units per year to over a million. Concurrently, the number of e-bike and e-scooter rentals has seen a dramatic increase. This rapid expansion has led to a rise in emergency room visits for injuries related to these devices.
Research Findings
A 2024 study published in JAMA Network Open, utilizing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) managed by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, provides insights into the injury trends associated with e-bikes and e-scooters.
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Emergency Room Visits: Over a six-year period, approximately three million people sought emergency room care for injuries sustained while riding e-bikes, e-scooters, or conventional bikes and scooters. This included about 45,500 e-bike riders, 190,000 e-scooter riders, 2.5 million conventional bike riders, and 305,000 conventional scooter riders.
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E-bike Injuries: The number of e-bike injuries more than doubled each year, escalating from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022.
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E-scooter Injuries: E-scooter injuries increased by over 45% annually, growing from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022.
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Risky Behavior: Only 43% of e-bike and e-scooter riders wore helmets compared to 52% of conventional micromobility riders. Moreover, 7% of e-bike riders and 9% of e-scooter riders were drinking before their accidents, compared to 4% of conventional bike riders and 3% of conventional scooter riders.
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Urban Areas: More accidents occurred in urban areas, suggesting that the increased use of these devices in densely populated cities could be contributing to higher injury rates.
Safety Considerations
Given the findings, there are several steps that can be taken to minimize risks and improve safety:
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Education: Increasing public awareness about the safe operation of e-bikes and e-scooters is crucial. This includes understanding traffic laws, road safety, and the importance of wearing helmets.
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Infrastructure: Improving the infrastructure for micromobility devices by creating designated lanes and sidewalks can help reduce accidents.
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Regulation: Implementing and enforcing regulations on the use of e-bikes and e-scooters, such as speed limits and helmet requirements, could significantly reduce injury rates.
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Innovation: Encouraging the development of safety features in e-bikes and e-scooters, such as anti-lock braking systems and better visibility, can help prevent accidents.
Conclusion
The soaring popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters has brought both convenience and challenges. While these micromobility devices offer a greener and more accessible form of transportation, the data suggests that they also pose significant safety risks. By addressing these concerns through education, infrastructure improvements, regulation, and innovation, we can strive to make e-bikes and e-scooters safer for all users.
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