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National estimates and injury patterns of e-scooter and e-bike emergency department visits in the United States, 2017-2024

Author

Listed:
  • Guerrero, Edixon Chacón
  • echaconguerrer@stmarytx.edu
  • Montilla, Rómulo Esteban
  • rmontilla@stmarytx.edu

Abstract

Introduction: Electric scooters and electric bicycles have expanded rapidly in United States cities, and emergency department surveillance points to a growing injury burden, but their comparative national trajectory through 2024 is not well quantified. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a probability sample of United States emergency departments, from 2017 through 2024. Cases were identified with narrative keywords and product codes for powered scooters and electric bicycles. National estimates and proportions were computed with survey weights and a design-based variance estimator, with 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 12,754 e-scooter and 7,141 e-bike visits were identified, representing national estimates of 456,126 and 285,075 emergency department visits. Annual e-scooter estimates climbed from 18,644 in 2017 to 126,420 in 2024 (578%) and e-bike estimates from 12,015 to 88,429 (636%). Median age was 27 years for e-scooters and 31 years for e-bikes, and 63.3% and 71.5% of patients were male. Fractures accounted for 27.0% and 22.1% of injuries, and hospital admission for 11.0% and 12.0%. Conclusions: Emergency department injuries from e-scooters and e-bikes increased sharply from 2017 to 2024 and show device-specific age and injury profiles, which supports targeted prevention.

Suggested Citation

  • Guerrero, Edixon Chacón & echaconguerrer@stmarytx.edu & Montilla, Rómulo Esteban & rmontilla@stmarytx.edu, 2025. "National estimates and injury patterns of e-scooter and e-bike emergency department visits in the United States, 2017-2024," SAP Transport, Mobility & Society, South American Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:cwf:tmsart:tms2025153
    DOI: 10.62486/tms2025153
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