Oregon e-bike, e-scooter injuries rise as doctors warn of growing risks for kids
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As electric bikes and scooters become more common on Oregon streets, health officials are reporting a sharp rise in injuries, with doctors across the country warning that more children are ending up in emergency rooms after crashes.
According to the Oregon Health Authority, injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters more than doubled statewide between 2021 and 2025 as use of the devices expanded. In 2025 alone, Oregon hospitals and emergency departments reported 509 e-scooter injuries.
The trend is raising concerns among medical experts, especially as children and teenagers increasingly ride electric-powered devices capable of reaching speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
Unlike cars and motorcycles, there are no federal minimum age requirements for riding e-bikes or e-scooters. Safety advocates say that means many young riders may be using powerful devices before they have the experience or skills needed to operate them safely.
According to our NBC affiliate in Wisconsin, for one Wisconsin family, a seemingly harmless ride turned into a life-changing injury.
Jamie Cline said he bought his son Garrett an electric trike for his 12th birthday, believing it was safe because it had a top speed of about 15 miles per hour.
But while riding in his neighborhood, Garrett looked over his shoulder to check on a friend. When he turned back around, he crashed into a parked car.
"If you saw what happened to Garrett, you would understand," Cline said. "The angle of the seat and the handlebars, if you were to impact something, your body is just going to pivot forward."
The crash shattered Garrett's right cheekbone and required three surgeries to reconstruct his face.
Doctors say stories like Garrett's are becoming increasingly common.
New data show emergency room visits for e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and teens have increased more than 600% over the past three years. Head and neck injuries are among the most frequently reported.
Dr. Nick Kuehnel, a pediatric emergency physician at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, said he now treats at least one child a day for e-bike or scooter-related injuries.
"We're seeing severe head injuries with skull fractures and bleeds," Kuehnel said. "We're seeing injuries to the extremities, and we're seeing internal injuries even to the organs inside."
Kuehnel said the combination of high speeds, sudden acceleration and braking, distracted riding and inexperienced operators can create dangerous situations for young riders.
"I don't think that parents truly know the severity of the injuries that we're seeing with this," he said.
As e-bikes and scooters continue to gain popularity in communities across Oregon, experts encourage parents to research age recommendations before purchasing one, discuss the risks with their children and make sure riders wear properly fitted helmets every time they ride.
For Garrett, now 15, recovery has meant getting back to the things many teenagers take for granted.
His father said he's looking forward to seeing his son spend time with friends, make new memories and continue working toward a bright future.
