E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Alberta, with hundreds of children injured each summer

Injuries related to electric scooters are on the rise in Alberta, and doctors warn they can have serious consequences.

According to Alberta Health Services statistics, emergency room and emergency department visits due to e-scooter-related injuries across the province increased by 21 per cent last year.

“When you lose your balance and fly off an e-scooter, you’re almost like a human projectile,” said Dr. Eddy Lang, a professor of emergency medicine at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

“We’re seeing people land on their ankles, wrists and even their heads.”

In 2022, there were 1,860 injuries caused by e-scooters, including 337 among children and teenagers. By 2023, that number had risen to 2,245, including 458 children under the age of 18.

Between January and June of this year, 719 injuries were reported. That figure includes 205 cases involving children. Figures for the summer months, when e-scooter use increases, are not yet available for 2024.

In the worst cases, surgery or even a stay in the intensive care unit is necessary, Lang said, noting that head injuries can be serious.

“It’s rare, but there are a few times during the summer where someone will have a serious, serious brain injury and end up in the emergency room and end up needing surgery or intensive care,” he said.

“Even without that, concussions can be pretty serious and result in months of dysfunction, lack of sleep, difficulty concentrating… If you can avoid it, it’s totally worth it.”

The call for caution comes amid growing concerns across the country about an increase in the number of serious injuries related to e-scooter use, especially among children.

Children used as ‘air cushions’

AHS data reveals that 1,000 children and teenagers have been injured in accidents involving e-scooters since the beginning of 2022.

In Calgary and Edmonton, for example, people under the age of 18 are not allowed to use shared e-scooters, but Lang says he’s seeing the trend firsthand.

“We certainly see young people — especially teenagers — with injuries. I had an ankle injury that required surgery the other day,” he said.

“We also see a very irresponsible phenomenon of double-scooting – meaning there is an adult and a child on the scooter – and that is a very potentially dangerous situation.”

Kathy Belton also worries about the rise in injuries.

“As e-scooters become more popular, we’re seeing more and more people using them. There are certain behaviours, like not wearing a helmet, that are risky,” said Belton, director of the University of Alberta Injury Prevention Centre.

He shares Lang’s concerns about children.

Her team is conducting an observational study of e-scooter usage patterns in Edmonton, and Belton says the most dangerous practice researchers have documented so far is scootering with children.

“Parents, by all accounts, use their little kids as air cushions. So if the scooter suddenly stops, the adults are going to crush the kid,” Belton said.

The City of Calgary’s website states that anyone caught driving with a child as a passenger could be fined $75.

In Alberta, the rules around using e-scooters vary depending on where you live and whether you are using a shared or private scooter.

Under provincial regulations, privately owned electric scooters are not allowed on sidewalks or roads.

On the other hand, e-scooter sharing companies can operate in places where cities deem it appropriate, under an exception under the Road Traffic Safety Act.

The AHS data does not indicate how many injuries occurred when e-scooters were shared compared with those using private scooters.

“The City of Calgary places safety first in its shared micromobility programs and strongly encourages all e-scooter users to wear helmets,” a city spokesperson said in an emailed statement to CBC News.

“Safety measures were a key factor in the issuance of Calgary’s first five-year retail permits in 2021.”

In Edmonton, wearing helmets is also recommended, but not mandatory.

“The Road Safety Act does not currently contain any provisions relating to e-scooter users,” the City of Edmonton website states.

“The City of Edmonton strongly recommends wearing a helmet while riding any active transportation, including e-scooters.”

Companies say safety is top priority

Neuron, one of the companies operating in many Alberta cities, equips all its scooters with helmets.

“Neuron e-scooters have been enthusiastically received by riders in Calgary, with over three million (kilometres) ridden since their launch in 2021. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with the vast majority of people riding responsibly and safely,” reads a statement from Isaac Ransom, Head of Corporate Affairs at Neuron Mobility Canada.

The company encourages the wearing of helmets and offers incentives to customers who wear them.

“Our e-scooters also come with voice guides that educate and remind users to wear a helmet, as well as provide instructions on safe riding and parking,” he said, adding that the company regularly conducts online and in-person safety programmes.

The company said other safety features include geofencing controls (enabling cities to designate restricted and no-go zones), 911 emergency buttons, and voice guidance.

Lime, which operates in Edmonton, says ridership has increased at a faster rate than injuries. It is working with cities to control speeds and create slow or no-ride zones.

“Safety is and always will be top of mind at Lime. We know that safe driving and proper parking are two essential aspects of successful micromobility programs, so we dedicate a lot of time and energy to it,” a company spokesperson said in an email.

“We communicate with our cyclists all the time, making sure they know the rules of the road and how to follow them. We support protected bike lanes… And we design and build our own vehicles with safety in mind.”

The company reports a decrease in the number of injuries

Bird Canada, which operates in eight different municipalities in Alberta, said it continues to work to improve safety and has implemented a number of safety measures, including speed limits, audible alerts and app-based driver training.

According to the company, the number of reported injuries has decreased in the past year.

“Since 2022, Bird Canada has completed nearly two million e-scooter rides in Calgary. From January 1, 2022 to date, there have been 47 recorded injuries with Bird Canada,” said spokesman Austin Spademan.

Lang, for his part, would like to see helmets made mandatory. He urges people to plan ahead.

“Some of these devices can reach significant speeds, and you, as you can imagine, don’t take the same precautions as you would if you were in the vehicle,” he said.

“You need to make sure that when you get on a scooter, you’ve taken all the precautions and thought about the potential injuries that could occur if you’re not careful.”

AHS has a number of recommendations for anyone planning to use an electric scooter:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Drive with full control and practice your driving skills in a safe environment.
• When approaching or passing other people, use your bell, horn, or voice.
• For solo travellers only.
• Use standard hand signals when cycling.
• Do not use an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants.
• Please check and follow all local guidelines regarding e-scooters and micromobility.