E-scooter and E-bike Hospitalizations Soar: New Report Reveals Alarming Trends

A recent report has revealed a significant increase in hospitalizations related to e-scooter and e-bike accidents in Australia over the past five years. The data, which highlights a concerning trend among teenage boys, is expected to improve with new coding systems introduced this year.

Rising Hospitalization Rates

According to the report, the number of boys aged 12 to 15 hospitalized following e-scooter falls saw a 15-fold increase between 2019/20 and 2024/25. Boys in this cohort were four times more likely than girls to end up in hospital due to an e-scooter fall. The report also found that hospitalization rates increased for e-bike riders, although these data were harder to capture due to how these injuries were classified.

The report revealed that e-scooter-related deaths increased over the last decade from seven in 2014/15 to 20 in 2024/25; however, the proportion of deaths remained stable. New codes introduced in July this year will help better differentiate between e-mobility devices such as e-scooters and e-bikes.

Improving Data and Safety

A spokesperson for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Jacqueline Rek, emphasized that the improved data will help better understand the risks surrounding e-mobility devices. "Meaning these findings should not be interpreted as precise counts of injuries involving e-scooters or e-bikes alone," Ms Rek said. "This report provides the first national view on this topic, while also highlighting where more data is needed."

Expert Insights

Richard J Buning, a researcher from the University of Queensland, highlighted the importance of improving safety given the growth of e-mobility devices. "Every single year over the last five years, the growth in e-mobility device purchases has risen by 30 per cent," he said. Dr Buning expressed concerns about unsafe devices, such as over-powered e-bikes, and welcomed the federal government's introduction of stronger e-bike import standards.

Dr Buning noted that unsafe, non-compliant devices are a major contributor to problems associated with e-mobility devices. "It's these unsafe, uncompliant, illegal devices that are creating much of the problems of people riding really fast on high-powered devices," he said. "But the safe, compliant devices, they don't provide more power than just a normal typical average fit person can provide."

Regulation and Education

Dr Buning praised Queensland's e-bike assurance scheme, which follows EU regulations, and suggested that more targeted initiatives are needed to educate those riding unsafely, particularly younger people. "Ideally we can get into schools and teach them how to ride a device safely. That's probably going to take out the majority of the problematic behaviour," he said.