Surge in E-Bike and E-Scooter Injuries Strains NYC Hospital

Bellevue Hospital Center sees rising trauma cases linked to micromobility accidents

Apr. 16, 2026 at 3:59am

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray photograph revealing the internal structure of a damaged electric scooter wheel, with glowing lines tracing the fractured components, conceptually illustrating the serious injuries caused by e-bike and e-scooter accidents.An X-ray view of a damaged electric scooter wheel highlights the hidden internal injuries that can result from micromobility accidents.NYC Today

A new study published in the journal Neurosurgery found that e-bikes and e-scooters led to a growing number of trauma injuries at Bellevue Hospital Center in New York City. 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 micromobility options like e-bikes and e-scooters become more popular in urban areas, hospitals are seeing a surge in serious injuries that require neurosurgical care. This trend highlights the need for improved infrastructure, safety regulations, and public education to protect both riders and pedestrians.

The details

The study showed that about 7% of all trauma visits to Bellevue Hospital Center between 2018 and 2023 were due to micromobility injuries. Over half of these cases by 2023 involved e-bikes or e-scooters, up from just 8% in 2018. The most common injuries were collisions with motor vehicles and falls from the bikes or scooters, leading to traumatic brain injuries, skull/face injuries, and injuries requiring surgery in over 50% of cases. Nearly 70% of patients needed to be admitted to the hospital, and a third required intensive care.

  • Between 2018 and 2023, micromobility injuries accounted for about 7% of all trauma visits to Bellevue Hospital Center.
  • By 2023, over 50% of bike/scooter-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

A resident in the Department of Neurosurgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the corresponding author of the study.

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

The surge in serious injuries from e-bikes and e-scooters highlights the urgent need for improved urban infrastructure, safety regulations, and public education to protect both riders and pedestrians in the growing micromobility landscape.