A new study from Columbia University has reported a substantial increase in e-bike and powered scooter injuries between 2019 and 2022, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure in urban areas.
A recent study from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health has found that injuries related to e-bikes and powered scooters have dramatically increased from 2019 to 2022. The rate of e-bike injuries rose by a staggering 293%, while powered scooter injuries nearly doubled, increasing 88%.
Published in the American Journal of Public Health, this research shines a light on the critical need for improved safety protocols and infrastructure for micromobility devices in urban areas.
Micromobility includes small, low-speed transportation devices, such as e-bikes, powered scooters, bicycles and hoverboards. According to news reports, e-bike sales alone soared 269% over the same period, surpassing the sales of electric cars and trucks.
“Our results underscore the urgent need to improve micromobility injury surveillance and to identify strategies for cities to improve users’ safety so that micromobility can be a safe, sustainable, equitable and healthy option for transportation,” first author Kathryn Burford, a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia’s Department of Epidemiology, said in a news release. “Understanding how injury types and risk factors vary by mode can inform emergency department utilization, resource allocation and intervention strategies and policies to promote safe micromobility use.”
Utilizing data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) for the years 2019 through 2022, the researchers evaluated the national impact of micromobility-related injuries. They identified patterns and trends among 1,933,296 estimated injuries spanning e-bikes, bicycles, hoverboards and powered scooters. NEISS collects data from 96 U.S. hospitals with emergency departments, offering a comprehensive snapshot of these incidents.
Of 48,857,022 total emergency department visits over the four-year period, micromobility devices were associated with 1,933,296 injuries. Bicycles accounted for the majority at 33.2 injuries per 1,000 emergency visits. Powered scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards followed at 3.4, 1.2 and 1.8, respectively.
The study highlights significant demographic trends. Among hoverboard injuries, a striking 76% occurred in individuals under 18. Meanwhile, adults aged 18-44 accounted for 57% of powered scooter injuries and 49% of e-bike injuries. Older adults, those aged 65-84, experienced the highest proportion of bicycle-related injuries, closely followed by e-bikes.
Gender also played a role, with a higher proportion of males sustaining injuries related to powered scooters and bicycles compared to females.
Alcohol use was most prevalent among powered scooter injuries, with e-bike injuries following closely behind.
Helmet use was reported in about one-fifth of the cases, with injured bicycle and e-bike riders more likely to wear helmets than those on powered scooters or hoverboards.
“Conversely, the considerable increase in electric micromobility injuries we are experiencing may be attributable to the lack of access, education and regulation for protective equipment as shared micromobility systems, such as NYC’s Citi Bike program, are not required to provide helmets to users,” senior author Andrew Rundle, a professor of epidemiology at Columbia, said in the news release.
The study also points out gaps in legislation governing where micromobility devices can be ridden and regulating their use under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Legislation is lacking on where micromobility devices can be ridden and legislation regulating the riding of these devices while under the influence of alcohol or other recreational drugs is inconsistent and historically difficult to pass,” added Burford.
Future research aims to identify urban design elements that can minimize the risk of these injuries. Burford and colleagues plan to study built environment features that correlate with lower injury rates among micromobility users.