Health officials in Oregon are sounding the alarm as electric‑powered bicycles and scooters become a common sight on city streets and suburban neighborhoods. Data from the Oregon Health Authority show that injuries involving e‑bikes and e‑scooters more than doubled statewide between 2021 and 2025. In 2025 alone, hospitals and emergency departments recorded 509 e‑scooter injuries, a figure that reflects a broader national trend of rising accidents among young riders.
Children and teens at heightened risk
The surge is especially concerning for children and teenagers, who are increasingly drawn to devices capable of reaching speeds up to 30 miles per hour. Unlike cars and motorcycles, there are no federal minimum‑age requirements for operating e‑bikes or e‑scooters, leaving many young riders to use powerful equipment before they have the experience or judgment needed for safe operation.
A recent story from a Wisconsin family illustrates the personal toll. Twelve‑year‑old Garrett received an electric trike for his birthday, advertised with a top speed of about 15 miles per hour. While riding in his neighborhood, he looked over his shoulder to check on a friend, turned back, and collided with a parked car. The impact shattered his right cheekbone and required three reconstructive surgeries.
Medical community reports alarming statistics
Doctors across the country are confirming that Garrett’s case is becoming more common. New data indicate that emergency‑room visits for e‑bike and e‑scooter injuries among children and teens have increased more than 600 % over the past three years. Head and neck injuries top the list, followed by fractures to extremities and, in some cases, internal organ damage.
Dr. Nick Kuehnel, a pediatric emergency physician at American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, now treats at least one child a day for injuries related to these devices. “We’re seeing severe head injuries with skull fractures and bleeds, injuries to the extremities, and internal injuries even to the organs inside,” he said. He attributes the danger to a combination of high speeds, rapid acceleration and braking, distracted riding, and inexperienced operators.
Calls for parental vigilance
Medical experts are urging parents to research age recommendations before purchasing an e‑bike or e‑scooter, to discuss the inherent risks with their children, and to enforce the use of properly fitted helmets on every ride. “I don’t think parents truly know the severity of the injuries we’re seeing,” Dr. Kuehnel warned.
For Garrett, now 15, recovery has meant a gradual return to everyday activities and a hopeful outlook for the future. His father expressed optimism that his son will soon be able to spend time with friends, make new memories, and continue pursuing his goals.
What Oregon can do
State and local officials are being asked to consider age‑based guidelines, safety‑education programs in schools, and stronger enforcement of helmet laws. While no statewide legislation has yet been introduced, community groups and safety advocates are mobilizing to provide resources for families and to lobby for clearer regulations that protect young riders.
As electric mobility continues to expand across Oregon, the balance between innovation and safety will depend largely on informed parental choices and proactive public‑health messaging.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
