North American micromobility injury surge

A recent five‑year trauma study at New York City’s Bellevue Hospital found that e‑bike and scooter crashes now account for about 7 % of all trauma admissions, with e‑bike‑related cases rising from under 10 % of bike‑and‑scooter trauma in 2018 to more than half of such cases by 2023. The study highlighted a high rate of brain injuries among pedestrians struck by e‑bikes and prompted city officials to consider stricter registration, licensing and enforcement measures.

At the same time, doctors at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children reported an exponential increase in serious e‑scooter injuries among children, doubling each year and reaching a “tipping point” in 2024. The hospital now treats three to five pediatric e‑scooter injuries per week, many involving severe head, thoracic, spinal and abdominal trauma, with injury patterns comparable to high‑speed motor‑vehicle crashes. Both reports illustrate a growing public‑health burden from micromobility devices across major North American cities and have spurred calls for tighter safety regulations and preventive strategies.