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Pediatric injuries from e-bicycles and e-scooters are rising fast — and they're more severe than injuries from traditional bikes and scooters. A multicenter study found that e-bike and e-scooter injury rates grew the fastest over a 3.25-year period, with high-severity trauma occurring at roughly double the rate of their non-motorized counterparts. Researchers are calling it a "serious public health emergency."
Kids are getting hurt on e-bikes and e-scooters at an accelerating pace — and the injuries are more serious than those from traditional rides. A multicenter study published in JAMA tracked over 13,000 pediatric injury encounters across emergency departments, urgent care, and inpatient settings from January 2023 to March 2026. The findings show that e-bicycle and e-scooter injuries not only increased faster than non-motorized alternatives but also carried a significantly higher risk of high-severity trauma.
Perhaps most striking: nearly a quarter of e-bike injuries and 44% of e-scooter injuries involved children under 12 — an age group many might assume isn't riding these devices. Stanford's Dr. Alan Schroeder didn't mince words, calling it "a serious public health emergency that needs a public health solution."
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: As e-bikes and e-scooters become more accessible and popular among younger riders, the pediatric injury burden is growing in both volume and severity. Clinicians, parents, and policymakers need to act — whether through age restrictions, helmet mandates, or speed regulations — before the trend worsens.
