Fast-growing pastime comes with hidden danger, ER doctors warn

The Detroit, Michigan metro area is reporting an increase in serious incidents related to electric bicycles (e-bikes).

Fox 2Detroit He reported that police have seen an increase in e-bike accidents, while doctors have stated that they are treating an increasing number of related injuries.

These incidents have reportedly led some communities to seek to restrict e-bikes or ban them altogether.

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Some e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 45 kilometers per hour, increasing the potential severity of accidents on sidewalks and streets.

Fox 2 Detroit spoke with emergency room physician Robert Sherwin of Detroit Medical Center, who reports that he’s seen everything from minor injuries to major trauma related to e-bike accidents.

“These Class 3 bicycles are probably more like motor vehicles,” he said. “They’re going 28 miles per hour and a lot of drivers don’t expect that, they might not be experienced with that.”

“These e-bikes are heavier than normal bikes and travel much faster, but the human body does not change just because the bike has a motor.”

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Fox 2 Detroit also spoke with local bike shop owner John Hughes, who suggested the “real problem” has always been sharing the road with cars.

“Cars don’t look after bikes… people don’t respect bikes as a means of transportation, and that’s where it gets dangerous.”

“There’s a lot of traffic out there. Everybody’s on their cell phones. They’re texting and driving all the time,” Hughes continued.

E-bike rider Cam Cason told Fox 2 Detroit that the e-bike is “way better than the car.” (iStock)

E-bike rider Cam Cason told Fox 2 Detroit that he takes his e-bike to work and school and that it’s a “very effective form of transportation.”

“I think it’s a lot better than a car,” he said. “When you don’t have to spend $30 or $40 just to get some gas, use an electric bike to get where you need to go.”

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As concerns about e-bike safety grow across the country, states are starting to tighten regulations. A new law that went into effect this year in New Jersey requires e-bikes to be registered, and riders must be at least 15 years old and have a valid driver’s license or e-bike permit.

The law comes amid growing concerns about e-bike accidents, including the death of a New Jersey teenager. Supporters argued that licensing, helmet and registration requirements would encourage responsible driving and reduce bodily harm.

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NYU Langone Health issued an advisory in April regarding an increase in brain and spine injuries related to e-bikes and scooters among drivers and pedestrians in New York City.

Medical emergencies involving pedal and electric bikes and scooters accounted for approximately 7% of trauma patients admitted to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, according to a study published in the journal Neurosurgery.

E-bike-related trauma cases seen in the emergency department increased from less than 10% in 2018 to over 50% in 2023. (iStock)

One-third of 914 patients treated for injuries caused by pedal and electric bikes and scooters suffered traumatic brain injury. More than two-thirds required hospitalization and nearly 30% required intensive care.

According to the research, physical harm caused by electric bikes and scooters increased from less than 10 percent of cases in 2018 to more than half in 2023. The most common cause of injury, accounting for nearly half of all cases, was a collision with a car or truck.

“People don’t respect the bike as a means of transportation, and that’s where cycling becomes dangerous.”

Less than a third of riders wore a helmet, which was linked to a “significantly higher rate” of brain and facial injuries. The study found that 20% of patients tested positive for alcohol, which was associated with more severe head trauma and lower rates of helmet use.

Pedestrians struck by electric vehicles suffered brain damage almost twice as often as drivers, according to an analysis of 69 pedestrian incidents.

Researchers found that pedestrians struck by electric vehicles were almost twice as likely to suffer brain damage as drivers. (iStock)

Corresponding author Hannah Weiss, MD, a resident in the Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said in a statement that these findings suggest that “micromobility injuries lead to severe brain and spinal cord trauma requiring neurosurgical care on a scale we have not seen before.”

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“In a dense urban environment, we are seeing more and more of these injuries firsthand,” he continued. “The data points to actionable solutions, such as helmet use and safer bike lane design and enforcement, that could prevent many of these injuries and better protect both drivers and pedestrians.”

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Paul P. Huang, MD, associate professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and chief of neurosurgery at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, added that the study highlights that “urban infrastructure must continue to evolve to keep pace with the rapid rise of electric bikes and scooters.”

“Future studies should track these injuries across multiple cities and measure whether protected bike lanes, helmet programs, and speed enforcement actually reduce the number of brain and spine surgeries we perform,” Huang said.