A new report from researchers at the University of California, San Diego found a sharp rise in e-bike injuries with those 14 and younger disproportionately affected <\/p>\n
E-bike injuries have increased \u201cexponentially\u201d in California, according to researchers from the University of California, San Diego.<\/p>\n
The report, published in the Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open<\/a> last week, found e-bike injuries in California increased from just two reported collisions in 2018 to more than 1,500 in 2024.<\/p>\n The study\u2019s findings show e-bike riders are younger, incur more severe injuries and are more often at fault compared to traditional cyclists.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of our most concerning findings was the disproportionately high number of injured children involved in e-bike crashes,\u201d said John Austin, MD, general surgery resident and research fellow at UC San Diego School of Medicine and first author of the study. \u201cE-bikes provide valuable transportation and recreational benefits, but their higher speeds can generate crash forces more comparable to motorcycles than traditional bicycles, leading to potentially severe injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n The researchers analyzed data from the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System over the 7-year period. The study included 4,035 e-bike collisions and 58,332 traditional bike collisions.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n Based on the data, the researchers found e-bike riders were younger than traditional bicyclists, with a larger proportion of injured riders 14 years old and younger, and moderate-to-severe injuries were more common among e-bike riders than traditional bicyclists.<\/p>\n Scroll to continue reading<\/p>\n E-bike riders were also more likely to be involved in unsafe speeds and improper turn violations, and e-bike collisions were more likely to occur in more affluent communities, according to the study.<\/p>\n \u201cThese vehicles are faster and heavier, with younger riders using e-bikes more frequently, reports of inconsistent helmet use, and increased deaths and injuries,\u201d the study said.<\/p>\n The report also highlighted that e-bike sales are growing exponentially worldwide. In 2024, e-bikes were a $62\u2009billion market and global sales are projected to reach $113\u2009billion by 2030, per the study. Sales of e-bikes in the U.S. increased from 325,000 units in 2018 to 1.7\u2009million in 2024, according to the report.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cE-bikes are here to stay, and they provide substantial benefits to mobility and recreation,\u201d said Jay Doucet, MD, voluntary clinical professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine and professor of surgery at Florida State University at Lee Health. \u201cHowever, our study found a dramatic increase in e-bike injuries across California, including a disproportionate number involving children and low rates of helmet use among injured riders.\u201d<\/p>\n Researchers say the study\u2019s findings highlight the need for improved rider education, helmet use, infrastructure and safety policies for e-bike riders. They also emphasize the importance of e-bike classification and labeling requirements to improve \u201cenforcement and rais[e] parental and public awareness of e-bike speed capabilities.\u201d<\/p>\n Future research will focus on linking traffic collision data with hospital and trauma records to better understand the specific injuries riders sustain and which prevention strategies are most effective. Researchers also hope to evaluate how emerging safety regulations and infrastructure improvements impact injury rates over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n What are the California e-bike laws?<\/p>\n According to the California Vehicle Code<\/a> an e-bike is a \u201cbicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power.\u201d The state has three categories of e-bikes:<\/p>\n State law prevents cities from restricting e-bike riders\u2019 access to places like bicycle paths or trails, bikeways and bicycle lanes. But local authorities can block access to e-bikes on some equestrian, hiking or recreational trails.<\/p>\n What are the L.A. city e-bike laws?<\/p>\n The city of L.A. follows California state e-bike laws, but also has a few of its own ordinances<\/a>.<\/p>\n What are the L.A. County e-bike laws for unincorporated areas?<\/p>\n\n
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