New Data on Scooters and e-Bikes Injuries | MyCentralOregon.com – Horizon Broadcasting Group, LLC
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is urging riders to take safety precautions when using e-scooters and e-bicycles, as new data show a sharp increase in serious injuries associated with these “micromobility” or motorized devices.
An analysis by OHA’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP), using Oregon hospital and emergency department discharge data, shows that e-scooter-related injuries more than doubled between 2021 and 2025, as use of these devices expanded statewide.
Between 2021 and Sept. 30, 2025, Oregon hospitals and emergency departments reported the following e-scooter injury visits, using recently developed, e-scooter-specific codes.
2021: 211 injuries
2022: 269 injuries
2023: 326 injuries
2024: 418 injuries
2025 (Jan-Sept 2025): 509 injuries
“These injuries are not minor scrapes,” said Dagan Wright, Ph.D., senior injury epidemiologist and informaticist with OHA’s Public Health Division. “They often involve head injuries, broken bones and other serious trauma that requires emergency or inpatient care.”
Someone who knows the risk all too well is Portland e-scooter commuter Daniel Pflieger. He was riding a scooter home from work and slid on ice. The accident resulted in several bruised ribs. Luckily, Pflieger was wearing his helmet.
“I was biking home. It was late at night. It was just after one of the ice storms,” said Pflieger. “But most of the ice had melted and I was going uphill. And it was not a well-lit street. I would say one, wear a helmet. Two, pay attention to your surroundings. A lot of drivers are not paying attention. I wear a second light.”
He added, “Really pay attention and ride at a comfortable speed. These things typically top out at 17 miles an hour, and it doesn’t sound very fast, but when you’re exposed to it, it can feel pretty fast.”
E-scooter injury diagnosis codes are relatively new in health care reporting, making trend data from 2021 onward the most reliable period for understanding how injuries are changing over time, Wright explained. While the overall numbers remain smaller than for other transportation-related injuries, the rapid increase over a short period of time is a clear safety signal.
E-bikes part of broader micromobility safety concerns
While the e-scooter injury trend analysis focuses specifically on these devices, OHA notes that e-bicycles raise many of the same safety concerns. Both devices can reach higher speeds than traditional bicycles, are often used in mixed traffic environments and are increasingly used by riders of all ages and experience levels.
“Injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters share common risk factors—speed, lack of helmet use, roadway design and interactions with motor vehicles,” Wright said. “As micromobility options grow, so does the need for transportation infrastructure, riders, drivers and communities to focus on safety.”
Fatalities underscore risks
In addition to injury data, OHA reviewed death records from 2018 through 2025 (2025 data are preliminary) to identify fatalities related to e-scooter or motorized scooter use. Because there is no specific death code for e-scooters, the review relied on limited text fields within death records for motorized or electric scooters and transportation-related codes. Any indication of a wheelchair, sitting scooter or otherwise were removed from being counted.
17 deaths linked to e-scooter, motorized scooter use:
Twelve involved collisions with motor vehicles.
Five did not involve traffic or other vehicles.
59% of those who died were older than 50.
Seven of the 17 deaths, or 41% of all deaths from 2018 to 2025 (2025 data are preliminary and subject to change), were in 2025.
“These findings highlight the risks associated with micromobility devices, particularly when riders are older or sharing space with vehicle traffic,” Wright said.
Safety tips for e-scooter, e-bike riders
OHA encourages people using e-scooters and e-bicycles to reduce their risk of injury by:
Wearing a properly fitted helmet.
Following traffic laws and posted speed limits.
Riding where permitted and avoiding sidewalks when prohibited.
Staying alert and avoiding distractions.
Using lights and reflective gear, especially at night.
Taking extra caution around motor vehicle traffic.
As e-scooters, e-bicycles and other micromobility options continue to expand in Oregon, OHA will continue monitoring injury trends and working with partners to promote safer riding conditions for all road and sidewalk users.
About OHA
Oregon Health Authority works to improve the health and well-being of all Oregonians by ensuring access to effective, equitable and affordable health care and by supporting safe and healthy environments statewide.
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New Data on Scooters and e-Bikes Injuries
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is urging riders to take safety precautions when using e-scooters and e-bicycles, as new data show a sharp increase in serious injuries associated with these “micromobility” or motorized devices. An analysis by OHA’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program (IVPP),
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