MADISON, Wis. — There has been an increase in electronic scooter and bike accidents in the U.S., including Madison.
SSM Health St. Mary’s in Madison saw a 750% increase in these accidents compared to 2024.
Dr. Douglas Soltys, trauma and acute care surgeon at St. Mary’s, says these devices can travel at high rates of speed, potentially causing injuries.
“[They] either come from these bikes or scooters tumbling over on uneven pavement, or, in more serious cases, being hit by other cars on the road,” Soltys said.
According to Soltys, preventing these accidents requires various steps: wear reflective clothing, stay on sidewalks and bike paths rather than roads, wear a helmet if under 16 per the American Academy of Pediatrics, and more.
Soltys describes seeing 20 accidents at St. Mary’s Hospital from the beginning of the year until now. “While it doesn’t seem like a lot, it really is a huge jump from what we had in prior years, including this spring and summer. We do tend to see them, because everyone’s ready to get outside and on the roads. It’s just kind of more of a numbers game. More people are out, and more people are going to get hurt.”
He also says that injuries vary from scraped knees to broken limbs to head bleeding.
To view the state laws and more information, visit the Wisconsin Department of Transportation website or the AAP’s website on e-bikes and e-scooter safety.
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