National UCSF study finds some injuries and hospitalizations from popular micromobility vehicles have doubled. In the crowded urban landscape, where small electric vehicles – primarily scooters and bicycles – have transformed short distance travel, UC San Francisco researchers are reporting a major national surge in accidents tied to "micromobility." E-bicycle injuries doubled every year from 2017 to 2022, while e-scooter injuries rose by 45 percent.
Injured e-riders tended to be slightly older and wore helmets less often than conventional riders. And e-scooter riders were more likely to sustain internal injuries than conventional scooter riders, while upper extremity injuries were more common among non-EV riders. The researchers analyzed injuries and hospitalizations from electric bicycles, electric scooters, conventional bicycles and conventional scooters.
The study, which appears July 23 in JAMA Network Open , is believed to be the first investigation into recent injury patterns in the U.S. The U.
S. had a remarkable increase in micromobility injuries during the study period. This increase in accidents not only introduced a demographic shift, but also underscores an urgent need for added safety measures.
There are undeniable health and environmental benefits to micromobility vehicle use, but structural changes must be taken to promote safe riding." Adrian Fernandez, MD, co-lead author, chief resident with the UCSF Department of Urology Reshaping urban transportation Mic.