'These are not toys': E-bike and e-scooter injuries are rising

The parade of injuries among young electric bicycle and scooter riders arrived with the warmer weather. Fractured collarbones. Broken ankles and legs. Scrapes and lacerations requiring stitches.

For commuters, e-bikes and e-scooters are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to cars. But their increasing popularity among children and teens is drawing safety concerns as emergency rooms around the region report a rise in injuries tied to the motorized rides.

"To a lot of kids, it's just a bike," said Shannon DuJack, nurse manager of Ellis Medicine's emergency department. "Kids and teens are not really thinking of the risks."

The vehicles' popularity has outpaced the public's awareness of the dangers they pose, DuJack said. Young people riding e-bikes often aren't old enough to obtain a license, meaning they don't know the rules of the road or how to make themselves visible to motorists. Add to that teens' tendency for distraction, and you've got a big problem, she said.

Under state law, anyone operating an e-bike or e-scooter in public must be at least 16 years old. But because the industry remains largely unregulated, a whole category of electrified devices marketed to kids has confused parents and blurred the line between toy and transit. Experts say many vehicles advertised online to children and teens lack crucial safety features and have throttles that push them past safe speeds.

"What I tell folks is, ‘These are not toys,'" said Dr. Gregory Wu, an emergency and critical care physician at Albany Medical Center. "We should be cautious when giving them to kids."

Dr. Eric Aronowitz, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine who serves as medical director of OrthoNY's Injury Clinics, said he has seen a surge in fractures, sprains and strains - many of which occur when riders are thrown from the e-bike or scooter and instinctively try to break their fall with an outstretched hand.

"New users and younger riders are especially vulnerable because they may not fully appreciate the speed, stopping distance and reaction time required to avoid an accident," Aronowitz said.

As e-bikes and scooters became more affordable, Albany Med has also seen an uptick in injuries related to their use over the last year, including concussions among riders not wearing helmets. The traumatic injuries tend to be "related to speed," Wu said, as e-bikes and scooters go considerably faster than conventional bicycles.

Like many states, New York has adopted a three-tier classification of e-bikes: Class 1 have motors that kick in while riders pedal, with maximum speeds of 20 mph; Class 2 have throttles that reach the 20 mph maximum without pedaling; and Class 3 provide pedal-assist up to 25 mph and may not be operated outside New York City.

But many e-bikes and scooters on the market fall outside the state's classification system, and parents buying them for their kids may not be aware they are violating the law, said Ed Brennan, assistant bicycle safety director for the New York Bicycling Coalition. Some e-bikes and electrified dirt bikes - a category sometimes called e-motos - have motors that can reach 40 mph without pedaling, and yet are marketed to young people.

New York treats these like motorcycles, meaning the ultra-fast bikes are not allowed on public sidewalks or paths.

"I think a lot of parents are buying these for their kids because of peer pressure and they really don't know the law," Brennan said.

The excess of choices has led to a lot of confusion about what legally counts as an e-bike in New York. Many devices sold online as "e-bikes" are illegal under state rules, which say that e-bikes cannot exceed 750 watts. To make matters worse, online marketplaces often fail to provide the necessary labels and documentation on their products that would educate consumers about what they are buying.

The New York Bicycling Coalition hosted forums in Glens Falls and Kingston on the topic earlier this year. The coalition previously worked to educate police officers about the state's e-bike rules. With a state grant, they decided to widen their focus to help police departments and municipalities navigate a transit landscape that now includes all manner of electrified devices.

Brennan also believes schools should play a part in educating their students about e-bikes and scooters. The state mandates bicycle and pedestrian safety as part of drivers' pre-licensing course, but that often arrives too late. Schools are also required to teach the topic - including the importance of helmet-wearing - but many do not.

Experts told the Times Union they want to see a greater emphasis on prevention and awareness. They encouraged all riders to be aware of their surroundings and to wear highly visible reflective gear in addition to helmets. Because children lack the situational awareness, impulse control, and dexterity required to safely operate electrified devices in traffic, they recommended keeping kids and teens off the roads, if possible.

For parents who choose to buy their kids an e-bike or scooter, going to a local bike shop instead of buying online can help. It enables riders to ask questions, take a test ride and learn what's legal and what isn't.

"Be alert," said DuJack. "Know your equipment and know how much damage it can cause."

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