Bend sees increase in e-bike injuries

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Emergency room visits for E-bike injuries in Saint Charles are reaching new highs. Today, the number of injures reached 83 for this year, matching the total number of injuries recorded for all of 2025. The trend puts the area on track to see roughly 50% more E-bike before the end of the year.

Dr. Jon Roberts, an emergency medicine doctor in Saint Charles, issued a warning about the growing frequency and severity of E-bike crashes.

“The increased speed that they have, I mean a normal bike rider by bike, ten miles an hour, e-bikes can go 20 or even 30 miles an hour and they're heavier,” Roberts said. “The injuries you see are much more severe and they're more in line with like a moped or a motorcycle. And so the range of injuries can be the simple things like a broken wrist or broken collarbone. But we also see major injuries to the spine, to the brain and unfortunately, even fatalities.”

At the time of his interview, four people were in the emergency room receiving treatment for E-bike-related injuries.

To prevent serious accidents, Roberts stressed three critical safety recommendations for riders. He emphasized that riders must wear a helmet, avoid consuming alcohol before operating an E-bike, and recognize that E-bikes are not as easy to ride as traditional bicycles, requiring more practice and experience to handle safely.