Emergency room trips linked to electric bikes and scooters have soared in recent years. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission tracked the numbers from 2017 to 2024, and E-bikes sent around 155,200 people to emergency rooms and caused 310 deaths.
The same source estimates that E-scooters racked up an estimated 380,000 emergency room trips during those same years. Dr. Pruva Grover works as a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic. She sees riders of all ages getting hurt across the country.
“Largely, there is a huge disconnect in information. I think that that’s where all of these issues are leading out to,” Grover told News 12 New Jersey.
Grover has witnessed a spike in tragedies involving children and e-bikes over the last few months. She thinks the overall situation is “severely underreported.”
“It’s just a matter of time when we’ll be able to collect this data much more appropriately to really understand the true scope, but I fear that what you’re seeing right now is just the tip of the iceberg,” she says. “These are 50- to 60-pound machines which can travel at a speed from anywhere from 20 to 28 mph and can cause significant injuries to the rider and to the passersby as well.”
She urges riders to wear helmets that fit right and are certified for higher speeds. A standard bicycle helmet may not provide enough protection, she warns.
Grover also says riders should follow local traffic laws. For instance, larger vehicles have blind spots, and drivers may not see an e-bike or e-scooter until it’s too late.
New Jersey has passed new laws for e-bikes. No one under 15 can ride one. Riders must have valid driver’s licenses or motorized bicycle licenses, and all e-bikes must be registered and insured.