Recent years have seen a massive uptick in the adoption of electric mobility devices. From stand-up e-scooters to electric bicycles and everything in between, it’s clear that lightweight electric transport is here, and it’s here to stay.
That being said, just like many things that gain popularity, the more people use or do something, the more things go wrong. And this is exactly what’s going on in the e-mobility industry, where injuries associated with these devices have tripled since 2019.
While it’s easy to point blame at e-bikes and e-scooters directly, it turns out people just tend to be a bit stupid sometimes, too. A study published in the Injury Prevention Journal makes it apparent that the increase in e-mobility-related injuries stemmed from riders being under the influence of alcohol and other substances. Moreover, the numbers show that more men than women were injured, and younger riders were the most likely to be under the influence of alcohol.
But being stupid and throwing caution to the wind has always been human nature. And so, the study points out that there are other clear ways to improve the safety of these e-mobility devices. Akshaya Bhagavathula, an associate professor of epidemiology at North Dakota State University, and a co-author of the study mentioned above, explained to Scientific American that infrastructure, regulations, and general awareness regarding the risk of riding under the influence have not kept up with the increased use of e-bikes and e-scooters.
According to Bhagavathula’s study, there were around 279,990 emergency room visits for e-scooter injuries and 16,600 ER visits for e-bike injuries from 2019 to 2022 in the US. So it’s clear that there are way more injuries associated with electric scooters than there are with electric bicycles. And from a design point, it’s easy to see why this is the case. Bicycles tend to be more stable and easier to control than stand-up e-scooters.
But rolling out bans to certain types of mobility vehicles does favors for no one.
So here’s the kicker: Are we going to wait for governments to build e-mobility-focused infrastructure and enforce new rules? Or are we going to keep riding e-bikes and e-scooters without caring about safety? Well, I think you’d be an idiot if you chose any of those two, because obviously, the right thing to do is to take your own safety into your own hands.
And doing so isn’t so hard, either. Simply being more mindful every time you ride can go a long way in keeping you safe when on two wheels. Strapping on a helmet, following the rules, and you know, generally not being a dumbass on the road, will greatly improve your odds of getting to your destination in one piece. Oh, and not hitting the road intoxicated helps, too. Some people just never learn.
This general mindset isn’t applicable to just e-bikes and e-scooters, either. I’d argue that having a safety-focused mindset is equally, if not even more important for folks who drive cars and ride motorcycles.
So yeah, if you’re one of those folks who doesn’t really care about safety, or worse, hits the road under the influence of drugs or alcohol, maybe 2025 will be the year you make a change. Remember, there are folks who care about you and very much want you to reach your destination safely.
Sources: Scientific American, Injury Prevention Journal
