Why electric bikes and scooters put riders at risk

In recent years, electric bikes and scooters have gained popularity among children and adolescents. But they don’t come without serious risks.

In fact, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reports more than 360,000 electric scooter or bike-related emergency room visits between 2021 and 2023, with many of those injuries happening to children under the age of 15.

“Electric bikes and scooters are dangerous for many reasons,” says Dr. Rukmini Velamati, an emergency medicine physician Advocate Children’s Hospital. “They are far quicker than their non-motorized counterparts, which means falls and collisions occur at much higher speeds.”

That also means drivers have less time to spot riders as they ride on roads or cross intersections.

“In many cases, children and teens on e-bikes and scooters aren’t even wearing helmets,” she says. “This is one of the simplest ways you can protect yourself while riding bikes and scooters of any kind. When someone chooses not to wear a helmet, the consequences can be life-altering or even deadly.”

If you or your child use an electric bike or scooter, Dr. Velamati recommends the following tips to ride as safely as possible:

• Make sure to always wear a properly fitted helmet and leave it on for the entirety of the ride. Additional protective gear is always a good idea, such as elbow, knee and wrist pads.
• Keep young children off of electric scooters. Oftentimes, there are multiple riders on electric scooters, particularly older children transporting younger kids. This is extremely unsafe. Electric scooters are not appropriate for young children.
• Obey the rules of the road. Familiarize yourself with where electric vehicles can be operated in your town and state and always obey all traffic signals and signs.
• Ride carefully. Refrain from operating the electric bike or scooter at high speeds. Do not attempt tricks or stunts while riding and avoid erratic and unpredictable behavior. It can be difficult for vehicles and pedestrians to see electric bikes and scooters coming, so ride slowly and carefully. Take turns slowly and keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the bike or scooter at all times.

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