E-scooter, e-bike injuries becoming more common, and severe, area hospitals say
Slow down, wear a helmet, and follow the rules of the road to avoid injury, specialist says
London's hospitals are facing an uptick in both the frequency and severity of injuries involving electric scooters and bikes as the machines become more affordable and popular, according to both a doctor and an injury prevention specialist in the region.
Representatives from both St. Joseph's Health Care London, and the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) say many of the injuries are preventable with safety precautions, and the results of improper operation can be severe.
"With the introduction of e-scooters and e-bikes, we've certainly seen different types of injuries than we've seen in the past," said Dr. Graham King, St. Joseph's Health Care London's Chief of Surgery at the Roth McFarlane Hand & Upper Limb Centre.
"It's well documented in the literature ... collectively these devices have resulted in increased incidence of traumatic injuries due to crashes and collisions."
It's not just the London region's hospitals tracking the trend. Since last year, Toronto's SickKids hospital has been warning of rising incidents of e-scooter and e-bike injuries. This month, the hospital reiterated that warning.
Injuries stemming from the use of these modes of transportation are often more severe than what one might expect to see from traditional bikes and scooters for a multitude of reasons, King said.
"A lot of facial fractures from falling and hitting your face or head. The most common fracture is a fracture of the wrist, and those are often more severe than a typical slip and fall fracture," King said.
The injuries in question are often what King calls "higher energy injuries." They often require surgery to fix, and involve things like metal plates to help healing.
"They can also be open fractures because the force is so high. These things go up to 30 kilometres per hour or more. When they hit the ground, the bones sometimes come through the skin, and have what we call compound fractures."
These injuries have the potential to do more than rip skin and break bone, with infections, nerve and tendon damage, and brain damage all possible, King added.
"[E-bikes] can get up to speed very quickly. Most people that ride a [regular] bike don't ride at 30 kilometers an hour, unless they're a super athlete," King said.
Tips to stay safe
The preventable portions of those injuries are exactly what Rai Di Loreto, an LHSC injury prevention specialist, aims to reduce.
He said LHSC has also seen a "steady increase" in e-bike and e-scooter injuries.
Numbers provided by the hospital network show that in 2023, 37 adults and 14 children ended up in hospital after falling from e-scooters. In 2024, that number rose to 41 adults and 23 children.
Data for e-bikes weren't immediately available, and incidents where e-scooters collided with vehicles aren't included in the data.
"[E-scooters and e-bikes] are a great from of mobility. They're lightweight, eco-friendly, cost-effective, and a great way to get from point A to point B when used properly," Di Loreto said. "That's the key phrase — when they're used properly."
High speed means it's harder to manoeuvre, and in the event of a crash, the impact is significantly more damaging.
"Always wear a helmet. I can't stress this point enough because helmets are life-saving devices. Helmets are there for a reason and they're proven to protect your brain and reduce the severity of traumatic brain injury and even death," Di Loreto said.
Di Loreto also said riders should remember that it's not wise — or legal — to operate an e-bike or e-scooter while impaired, or on sidewalks or trails. Users should also be aware that only one person should be on the device at once.
Following road rules is also important, he said. That means, as is expected for regular bikes and scooters, stopping at stop signs, obeying traffic lights, and more.