ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Emergency rooms nationwide are reporting a surge in visits for electric bike and electric scooter-related injuries.
Hospitals have seen a 671% increase in children and teens being injured while riding e-bikes and e-scooters since 2023, according to Truveta, a health data and analytics firm. Doctors say head and neck injuries are among the most common. They also warn that e-bikes’ quick starts and stops can be dangerous, especially if the rider is distracted by a cell phone or isn’t wearing a helmet.
Local e-bike rules
As News10NBC has covered, several local governments have passed regulations on e-bikes. In Rochester and Ogden, it’s illegal for anyone under 16 to ride an e-bike or e-scooter, and no one is allowed to ride them on sidewalks. In addition, Geneva City Council recently approved a similar ordinance, which prohibits e-bikes and e-scooters on roads with posted speed limits above 30 mph and prohibits them from traveling faster than 20 mph…