Study shows growing injuries from electronic bicycles, electronic scooters with differences in injuries, hospitalizations
E-bike injuries were considerably more severe although less common than injuries from e-scooters
SAN DIEGO — Electronic bikes and electronic scooter injuries among children and teens increased nearly four-fold at one California hospital between 2019 and 2025, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.
Although e-scooters accounted for most injuries, e-bike injuries represented a growing share of cases and were considerably more severe. Children injured on e-bikes were more likely to sustain concussions and fractures, require surgery or hospitalization, and were more likely to experience potentially life-threatening injuries, according to the research to be presented during the Oct. 2-6 conference.
The authors of the abstract, “Patterns and Severity of Injuries Following E-Bike and E-scooter Use,” also found that many riders – especially those riding e-scooters -- were violating age or helmet laws. Yet legal compliance alone was not associated with less severe injuries.
"Our data highlights that an intentional and nuanced approach to education, community awareness, and public safety measures around e-bike and e-scooter use is imperative, especially regarding our youth population," said Bianca Edison, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMSSM, an attending physician in the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Researchers reviewing data at a pediatric hospital analyzed 379 cases, 70% of whom were male. In 2025, there were 124 cases reported, up from 33 in 2019. E-bike injuries represented a growing proportion of total cases, rising from 21% in 2019 to 31% in 2025. E-scooter injuries comprised 77% of cases.
Most injuries resulted from an unprovoked fall or loss of control (71%). Upper extremity (53%), lower extremity (46%), and head (39%) were the most frequent injury locations. Despite an overall greater proportion of e-scooter injuries, e-bike riders experienced significantly worse outcomes than e-scooter riders across all injury severity measures, 17% experiencing a concussion; 48% a fracture; 26% needed surgery; and 27% required impatient admission.
“These recreational transportation devices are becoming increasingly common among children and teenagers, and the injuries we are seeing are rising just as quickly,” said Dr. Edison. “It is imperative that youth, parents, and the community at large realize that preventing these injuries will require safety strategies that account for the different risks associated with each type of device and the implications of their use in public amongst other riders, pedestrians, and motor vehicle drivers, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.”
Media Relations Contacts:
Lauren Song: lasong@chla.usc.edu / 323-361-3614
Jack Wyatt, clinical research coordinator at the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, is scheduled to present the research, which is below, from 8:49 am PDT – 8:53 am PDT Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026
In addition, Jack Wyatt will be among highlighted abstract authors who will give brief presentations and be available for interviews during a “Soundbite Session” from noon- 1 pm PDT Sunday, Oct. 4, in the conference center Press Room, 14A.
##
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
ABSTRACT
Program Name: Call for Abstracts
Submission Type: Section on Orthopaedics
Abstract Title: Patterns and Severity of Injuries Following E-Bike and E-scooter Use
John Wyatt
Los Angeles, CA, United States
10/03/2026 8:49 AM - 8:53 AM
The use of electric bikes (e-bikes) and scooters (e-scooters) has expanded in urban environments, particularly among adolescents. Injury rates appear to be rising, yet detailed characterization in pediatric populations remains limited. This study evaluates trends in injury incidence, mechanisms, and outcomes associated with e-bike and e-scooter use, with emphasis on injury severity and legal compliance.
A large language model was utilized to identify patients with injuries related to the use of e-bikes or e-scooters at a single quaternary pediatric hospital from 2019 to 2025. Demographic, clinical, and injury characteristics were collected from medical records. Illegal riding was defined as operating an e-scooter under the age of 16 or riding an e-bike under the age of 18 without a helmet, consistent with California laws. Injury severity was assessed using the Pediatric Trauma Score (PTS). Comparisons between e-bike and e-scooter injury types and injury severity were compared using chi-square, Fisher’s exact, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests as appropriate.
379 patients were included (70% male, mean age 14.2±3.8 years). E-bike and e-scooter injuries increased nearly four-fold over the study period, from 33 cases in 2019 to 124 cases in 2025. E-bike injuries represented a growing proportion of total cases, rising from 21% in 2019 to 31% in 2025. E-scooter injuries comprised 77% of cases. The most common mechanism of injury was unprovoked fall or loss of control (71%). Upper extremity (53%), lower extremity (46%), and head (39%) were the most frequent injury locations. Despite an overall greater proportion of e-scooter injuries, e-bike riders experienced significantly worse outcomes than e-scooter riders across all injury severity measures: concussion (17% vs 8.6%, p=0.030), fracture (48% vs 36%, p=0.049), need for surgery (26% vs 9..7%, p< 0.001), and impatient admission (27% vs 10%, p< 0.001). A greater proportion of e-bike injuries were also classified as potentially life-threatening by PTS (8.8% vs 2.8%, p=0.027). Illegal riding was identified in 53% of patients and was significantly more prevalent among e-scooter riders (66% vs 7.2%, p< 0.001). However, after adjusting for age, vehicle type, and helmet use, law compliance was not associated with less severe injury outcomes (p=0.849).
E-bike and e-scooter-related injuries in pediatric patients are increasing rapidly, with e-bike injuries representing a growing and disproportionately severe subset despite lower overall prevalence. These findings highlight important differences in injury profiles between device types and suggest that factors beyond simple legal compliance may drive injury severity. The high prevalence of illegal riding underscores ongoing gaps in adherence to safety regulations, particularly among e-scooter users. Collectively, this study supports the need for targeted injury prevention strategies, including improved education, enforcement, and device-specific safety interventions, to address the rising burden of electric micromobility-related injuries in pediatric populations.
Pediatric E-Bike and E-scooter Injuries by Year
Numbers within bars represent injury count by vehicle type. Total injuries per year show above each bar.
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Patterns and Severity of Injuries Following E-Bike and E-scooter Use
Article Publication Date
2-Oct-2026
Children, teens experience more injuries on electronic or gas-powered bikes than pedal-assist
Head injuries were common in incidents with all three forms of bicycles, and fractures associated most with e-bikes
SAN DIEGO —Children and teens who ride electric- or gas-powered bikes are at higher risk of trauma or death when involved in collisions as compared to those riding pedal-assisted bicycles, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego Oct. 2-6.
In the abstract, “Comparison of Bikes, E-Bikes, and Gas-Powered Cycle Injuries in the United States: A National Review from 2005–2024,” researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) to investigate injuries and deaths in the pediatric population.
The authors analyzed incidents involving patients age 17 and younger, following a total 134,426 cases involving pedal-assist bicycles, 305 e-bikes, and 1,721 gas-powered cycle-related injuries over the 20-year span. Gas-powered bikes led to the most hospital admissions followed closely by e-bikes.
“In the pediatric trauma setting, electronic bicycles are becoming increasingly common,” said abstract author Seth Weir, DO, a third-year general surgery resident. “The goal of this research was to better inform parents when buying electric assist powered bicycles and adequately portray the risk of injury in each type.”
Most patients were white males who were treated and released from the hospital. The most common type of injury for pedal-assisted bikes was contusion or abrasion, as opposed to e-bikes in which fractures were more common. In all three types of bike incidents, patients most often reported injuries to the head as opposed to other parts of the body, with a breakdown of e-bikes 20%, gas-powered cycles 16.6%, and pedal-assist bicycles 15.8%.
The highest percentage of trauma-related deaths were related to electric bicycles, according to the research. E-bikes also led to the second-highest trauma-related admission rate when comparing the three bicycle types.
The researchers suggest that although hospital admission and fatalities are rare, there is a need for regulation to prevent harm. They recommend strategies such as requiring a driver’s license or regulating the speed at which bikes are able to go for pediatric age groups.
Funding organizations: Stony Brook University Hospital, Prisma Health
Contact: Seth Weir, DO resident physician, Prisma Health, at Seth.Weir@prismahealth.org
Dr. Weir is scheduled to present his research, which is below, from 5:15 to 7 PM PDT on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Marriott.
##
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
ABSTRACT
Program Name: Call for Abstracts
Submission Type: Section on Surgery
Abstract Title: Comparison of Bikes, E-Bikes, and Gas-Powered Cycle Injuries in the United States: A National Review from 2005–2024
Seth Weir
PORT JEFF STA, NY, United States
10/02/2026 5:15 PM - 7:00 PM
Electronic bikes, or E-bikes, are becoming increasingly common throughout the United States (U.S.). In comparison to normal peddle powered bikes, their ability to accelerate quickly and reach high speeds increases the chance for injury. Recently studies have described E-bike related injuries, but comparisons to normal bicycles and gas-powered cycles injuries and disposition have not been studied yet. The purpose of this study was to characterize and compare pediatric E-bike vs bike vs gas-powered cycle-related injuries in the United States injury patterns.
A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was performed using the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a stratified probability sample of U.S. hospitals with emergency departments, from 2005 to 2024. Cases involving patients ≤17 years with injuries related to E-bikes, bikes, and gas-powered cycles. Standard NEISS variables were analyzed, including patient demographics, injury characteristics, anatomical location, diagnosis, and emergency department disposition. National estimates were generated using sampling weights provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
A total of 134,426 cases met criteria for bicycles, 305 for E-bikes, and 1721 gas-powered cycle related injuries in the study period. Most documented cases occurred in males across all subgroups. White patients were the most affected across all races in all 3 subgroups. The most common type of injury for bikes was contusion/abrasion (24%) and gas-powered cycles (27%), E-bikes was fracture (27%), shown in figure 1. Injury to the head was the most frequent anatomic location to sustain injury among all three groups (E-bikes 20%, Gas-powered cycles 16.6%, Bicycles 15.8%). The mean age for patients with E-bike related injuries 12.43 +/- standard deviation (SD) of 3.71, bicycles was 9.67 +/- 3.96, and gas-powered 13.13 +/- 3.69. Overwhelmingly patients were treated and released (92%), (90%), (87%) for bikes, E-bikes and gas-powered cycles respectively. Gas-powered cycles had the highest percentage of patients that required admission (10%), with the next highest being E-bikes (6.6%), while the bicycle group had the lowest percentage of patient’s admitted (5%). All subgroups had documented cases of fatalities; E-bikes had 1 reported fatality (0.32% of all cases), 2 fatalities in the gas-powered cycles group (0.12%), and bikes with 37 (0.03%).
E-bikes have a high potential for injury in the pediatric population and most commonly present with fractures. This study is the largest national database study and is the first to compare to both bikes and gas-powered cycles. Although hospital admission and fatalities are rare, the fact that E-bikes have the highest percentage of fatalities and the second highest for admission indicates there is a need for further regulation of this transportation modality. Strategies such as requiring a driver’s license or regulating the speed at which they are able to go for pediatric age groups could prevent the number of injuries associated with E-bikes.
Mechanism of Injury
Types of injury related to percentage of injury by subgroup.
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Comparison of Bikes, E-Bikes, and Gas-Powered Cycle Injuries in the United States: A National Review from 2005–2024
Article Publication Date
2-Oct-2026
No comments:
Post a Comment