UC San Francisco researchers have reported a significant increase in accidents related to micromobility vehicles, such as electric scooters and bicycles, within urban environments.
Their study, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed injury and hospitalization data across the U.S. for both electric and conventional scooters and bicycles. This research is notable as it is the first comprehensive investigation into the recent injury trends associated with these vehicles in the country.
The study revealed a concerning rise in injuries: e-bicycle injuries doubled annually from 2017 to 2022, and e-scooter injuries increased by 45%. Notably, e-riders were generally older and less likely to wear helmets compared to conventional riders.
E-scooter users experienced more internal injuries, while conventional scooter riders had more upper extremity injuries. These findings highlight a demographic shift and emphasize the need for enhanced safety measures to accommodate the growing use of micromobility vehicles.
Micromobility has expanded rapidly, especially in urban areas, due to the affordability and convenience of electric scooters and bicycles, which can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour.
Despite their benefits in reducing congestion and emissions, these vehicles pose significant safety risks, particularly for inexperienced riders. The researchers utilized data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, examining injury types, regions affected, and helmet usage.
From 2017 to 2022, e-bicycle injuries increased from 751 to 23,493, and e-scooter injuries rose from 8,566 to 56,847. In total, the study recorded nearly 2.5 million bicycle injuries, over 304,000 scooter injuries, 45,586 e-bicycle injuries, and approximately 189,517 e-scooter injuries.
The data indicated that urban settings saw a higher incidence of both conventional and electric vehicle injuries, with older riders more frequently engaging in risky behaviors such as intoxicated riding and not wearing helmets.
The median age for injured e-bicyclists was 39, compared to 30 for conventional bikers, while the median age for e-scooter riders was 30 compared to 11 for conventional scooter users.
The authors, including co-first author Kevin D. Li and senior author Dr. Benjamin N. Breyer, stressed the importance of a multifaceted approach to improve micromobility safety. This includes developing better infrastructure in urban areas, promoting helmet use, and encouraging sober riding through educational campaigns.
They emphasized that understanding and addressing the safety challenges of micromobility vehicles is crucial to fully leveraging their potential for creating more sustainable, healthy, and safe urban environments.
