E-Bike and E-Scooter Injuries Surge at NYC Hospital

Trauma cases involving micromobility vehicles have risen sharply over the past 5 years, with over half now linked to e-bikes and e-scooters.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 12:59am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image revealing the internal skeletal structure of an electric scooter wheel and suspension system, conceptually illustrating the serious injuries that can result from micromobility accidents.An X-ray view of an electric scooter's internal components highlights the potential for serious injuries when these micromobility vehicles collide with pedestrians or motor vehicles.NYC Today

A new study published in the journal Neurosurgery found that e-bikes and e-scooters led to a growing number of serious trauma injuries at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. The study showed that by 2023, over half of all trauma cases related to bikes or scooters involved an e-bike or e-scooter, up from just 8% in 2018. The most common injuries were traumatic brain injuries, skull/face injuries, and injuries requiring surgery.

Why it matters

As the use of e-bikes and e-scooters has surged in urban areas, this study highlights the growing public health and safety concerns around these micromobility vehicles. The findings point to the need for improved infrastructure, helmet usage, and safety enforcement to protect both riders and pedestrians from serious injuries.

The details

The study analyzed trauma data at Bellevue Hospital Center, a Level 1 Trauma center in New York City, from 2018 to 2023. It found that about 7% of all trauma visits during this period were due to micromobility injuries. The share of these injuries linked to e-bikes or e-scooters grew from 8% in 2018 to over 50% by 2023. The most common injury mechanisms were collisions with motor vehicles and falls from the bikes or scooters. Roughly 30% of patients suffered traumatic brain injuries, 26% had skull or facial injuries, and 50% required surgery. Nearly 69% of patients needed to be admitted to the hospital, and almost a third required intensive care.

  • The study analyzed data from 2018 to 2023.
  • By 2023, over 50% of micromobility-related trauma cases involved e-bikes or e-scooters, up from just 8% in 2018.

The players

Bellevue Hospital Center

A Level 1 Trauma center in New York City that treats the most serious injuries.

Dr. Hannah Weiss

The corresponding study author, a resident in the Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

Dr. Paul P. Huang

An associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and chief of neurosurgery at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue.

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What they’re saying

“Our study shows that micromobility injuries are producing serious brain and spinal trauma that demands neurosurgical care at a scale we haven't seen before.”

— Dr. Hannah Weiss, Resident, Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

“The data point to actionable solutions — helmet use, safer bike lane design and enforcement — that could prevent many of these injuries and better protect both riders and pedestrians, who in our study often sustained even more severe brain injuries than the riders themselves.”

— Dr. Hannah Weiss, Resident, Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

“Our findings make clear that urban infrastructure must continue to improve to keep pace with the rapid rise of electric bikes and scooters.”

— Dr. Paul P. Huang, Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, NYU Grossman School of Medicine; Chief of Neurosurgery, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue

What’s next

Future studies should track these injuries across multiple cities and measure whether protected bike lanes, helmet programs, and speed enforcement actually reduce the number of brain and spine surgeries performed.

The takeaway

This study highlights the urgent need for cities to invest in infrastructure, safety programs, and enforcement measures to protect both e-bike/e-scooter riders and pedestrians as the use of these micromobility vehicles continues to grow rapidly.