Dr. Brian Waterman Featured in Healio Article on Rising E-Bike Injuries
As electric bikes (e-bikes) and e-scooters continue to rise in popularity across the country, so do the hospital visits associated with them.
Dr. Brian Waterman was recently featured in Healio Orthopedics discussing this exact phenomenon. In the article, titled “Rise in e-bike injuries calls for more adequate safety recommendations,” Dr. Waterman shared critical insights from his published research tracking nationally estimated micromobility injuries.
The Numbers Behind the Trend
Between 2013 and 2022, nearly 46,000 e-bike-related injuries were treated nationally, with a massive 90.9% spike in injury frequency from 2019 to 2022 alone.
“There is definitely an exponential rise in the presence of these injuries,” notes Dr. Waterman. “In addition, close to about one-quarter to one-third of patients required hospitalization.”
While younger riders frequently suffer concussions and soft tissue injuries often associated with risk-taking behaviors or unfamiliarity with traffic flow, older adults are seeing a rise in complex fractures—including long bone, hip, wrist, and spine injuries.
Moving Toward Better Rider Safety
The surge in injuries isn’t necessarily because e-bikes are inherently more dangerous, but rather because far more people are using them on shared roads without updated infrastructure or standardized rules.
To help protect riders, Dr. Waterman emphasizes that injury prevention requires a comprehensive approach beyond just individual caution:
- Policy & Infrastructure Adaptations: Updating urban planning to include protected bike lanes, speed regulations, and clear guidance on where e-bikes belong (e.g., separating them from standard pedestrian sidewalks and high-speed road traffic).
- Gear Standardization: Broader implementation and enforcement of standardized protective helmet laws.
- Defensive Riding Practices: Encouraging riders to obey local traffic laws, eliminate distractions like mobile devices or headphones, and practice maneuvering in safe environments before hitting busy streets.
“Orthopedic and musculoskeletal colleagues are going to be key stakeholders, but riders need to engage urban planners and regulatory stakeholders to make sure that we are developing things like road design, protected bike lanes, speed regulation, and rider training.”
— Dr. Brian Waterman
Stay Safe Out There
Whether you use an e-bike for your daily commute or weekend recreation, taking proactive safety steps makes all the difference. Wear a helmet, stay aware of your surroundings, and treat your e-bike with the same caution you would any motor vehicle.
If you or a loved one has suffered an athletic or acute joint injury, Dr. Waterman and his team are here to help you safely return to motion.
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