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Published on: September 21, 2017
The Burden of Injuries Associated With E-Bikes, Powered Scooters, Hoverboards, and Bicycles in the United States:
Kathryn G Burford1, Nicole G Itzkowitz1, Andrew G Rundle1
1Kathryn G. Burford is with the Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY. Nicole G. Itzkowitz and Andrew G. Rundle are with the Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. Charles DiMaggio is with the Department of Surgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY. Stephen J. Mooney is with the Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle.
Abstract:
Objectives. To describe the national burden of injuries associated with e-bikes, bicycles, hoverboards, and powered scooters (micromobility devices) in the United States. Methods. We compared patterns and trends for 1 933 296 estimated injuries associated with micromobility devices from 2019 to 2022 using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data. Results. The population-based rates of e-bike and powered scooter injuries increased by 293.0% and 88.0%, respectively. When reported, powered scooter injuries had the highest proportion for alcohol use (9.0%) compared with other modes, whereas e-bike injuries had the highest proportion for motor vehicle involvement (35.4%). Internal injuries were more likely among e-bike diagnoses than hoverboard and bicycle (P < .05), but fractures and concussions were more likely among hoverboard diagnoses compared with all other devices (P < .05). When helmet use was identified in clinical notes (20.3%), helmet usage was higher among e-bike injuries (43.8%) compared with powered scooter (34.8%) and hoverboard (30.3%) injuries but lower compared with bicycle injuries (48.7%). Conclusions. The incidence of severe e-bike and powered scooter injuries increased over the 4-year period. Public health stakeholders should focus on improved surveillance and prevention of injuries associated with electric micromobility devices. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(12):1365-1374. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307820).
