E-bike injuries are increasing rapidly in California. Many hurt are 14 or younger, study finds

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred Electric bike crashes and injuries are increasing at a rapid pace across California, and many of those getting hurt are children 14 years old or younger, according to a new study by researchers at UC San Diego.E-bike riders were involved in at least 4,035 collisions in California from 2018 to 2024.

Although the number of collisions involving traditional bicycles remained relatively stable during the seven-year period, collisions involving e-bikes increased dramatically.No e-bike crashes involving injuries were noted in the study in 2018 and 2019, but by 2024, 1,566 were recorded in California.“E-bike injuries are rapidly increasing in California and are associated with a higher severity of injuries compared with traditional bicycles,” according to the report, which was published Friday in the journal Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.

The researchers from UC San Diego collected numbers by analyzing data from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System.The data include traffic incidents and reports submitted by law enforcement agencies across the state.

California As summer approaches, police warn that modified e-bikes are putting kids in the ER.Here is why some “bikes” are actually illegal 50-mph motorcycles.E-bikes have quickly grown in popularity and are becoming more common on city streets, parks, trails and bike paths.

Their proliferation has raised challenges for police, lawmakers and parents.E-bikes can go faster than traditional bikes and are often ridden by children and teenagers who may not have the experience to handle the speed.Medical officials have previously noted more e-bike related injuries coming into emergency rooms, and the injuries are often far more serious than those involving traditional bikes.Law enforcement officials say...