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The Detroit, Michigan, metro area is reporting an increase in incidents of serious accidents related to electric bicycles (e-bikes).
Fox 2 Detroit reported that police are seeing an increase in e-bike accidents, while doctors say they are treating an increasing number of related injuries.
These incidents have reportedly led some communities to demand restrictions on e-bikes or ban them altogether.
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Some e-bikes can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour, increasing the potential for crashes on sidewalks and roads.
Fox 2 Detroit spoke with emergency room physician Robert Sherwin of the Detroit Medical Center, who reported that he sees everything from minor injuries to major trauma related to e-bike incidents.
Police are reportedly seeing an increase in e-bike accidents, and doctors say they are treating an increasing number of related injuries. (Stock)
“These Class 3 bikes are almost like cars,” he said. “They’re going 28 kilometers per hour, and a lot of riders don’t expect that, they might not have that experience.”
“These e-bikes are heavier than regular bikes, and they go much faster, but the human body doesn’t change 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 been sharing the road with cars.
“Cars don’t respect bicycles … people don’t respect bicycles as a form of transportation, and that’s where it gets dangerous.”
Hughes continued, “There’s a lot of traffic out there. Everyone’s on their cell phone. They’re texting and driving all the time.”
E-bike rider Cam Cason told Fox 2 Detroit that an e-bike is “so much better than a car.” (Stock)
E-bike rider Cam Cason told Fox 2 Detroit that he takes his e-bike to work and school, calling it the “most efficient way” to get around.
“It’s a lot better than a car, in my opinion,” he said. “If you don’t have to spend $30 or $40 for 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 beginning to tighten regulations. In New Jersey, a new law passed this year 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 license to use them.
The law was passed amid growing concern about bike crashes, including the death of a New Jersey teenager. Supporters argue that licensing, helmet and registration requirements will promote responsible riding and reduce injuries.
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NYU Langone Health issued an advisory in April about brain and spinal cord injuries related to e-bikes and scooters among riders and pedestrians in New York City.
According to a study published in the journal Neurosurgery, medical emergencies involving pedal-powered bicycles and motorcycles account for approximately 7% of trauma patients admitted to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.
Trauma cases related to e-bikes seen in the emergency room increased from less than 10% in 2018 to more than 50% in 2023. (Stock)
One-third of the 914 patients treated for injuries involving pedal-powered bicycles and electric scooters had severe brain injuries. More than two-thirds required hospitalization and about 30% required intensive care.
Physical injuries linked to electric bicycles and scooters have increased from less than 10% of cases in 2018 to more than half in 2023, according to the study. The most common cause of injury, accounting for nearly half of all cases, was a car or truck collision.
“People don’t respect bicycles as a form of transportation, and that’s where it becomes dangerous.”
Less than a third of passengers were wearing helmets, which were linked to a “very high rate” of brain and facial injuries. The study found that 20% of patients tested positive for alcohol, which was associated with greater head trauma and lower rates of helmet use.
Pedestrians struck by electric vehicles suffer brain injuries at nearly twice the rate of passengers, according to an analysis of 69 pedestrian incidents.
Pedestrians hit by electric vehicles suffer brain damage at about twice the rate of the average passenger, researchers have found. (Stock)
Corresponding author Hannah Weiss, MD, a resident in the Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, noted in a statement that these findings suggest that “micromobility injuries present severe brain and spinal cord trauma that requires neurosurgical care on a scale that we have not seen before.”
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“In the busy city environment, we see an increase in these injuries firsthand,” he continued. “The data points to practical solutions – the use of helmets, safer bike lane construction and enforcement – that could prevent many of these injuries and better protect both riders 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 bicycles and scooters.”
“Future studies should track these injuries in more cities and measure whether protected bike lanes, helmet programs and speed enforcement actually reduce the number of brain and spine surgeries we do,” Huang said.
