A public health officer on Thursday issued an advisory urging families, physicians and others to be more aware as injuries and deaths on electronic bikes continue to rise.
In 2024, San Diego County hospitals recorded 865 emergency department visits and 186 hospitalizations related to e-bike accidents. Officials recommend that doctors counsel patients and families on applicable laws, screen for e-bike use during injury visits and check-ups and encourage safety training programs.
“A public health alert is one of the strongest tools our county has to warn San Diegans when people are getting hurt, and the danger is preventable,” county Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer said in a statement. “Far too many kids are ending up in our emergency rooms, and that’s not acceptable.”
The increase in injuries is due to a risky combination: many young riders do not know traffic laws and e-bikes can cruise faster than most can pedal – 20 miles per hour or faster, Lawson-Remer and county Public Health Officer Dr. Sayone Thihalolipavan said.
Some products are actually so powerful that technically, a user may need a motorcycle license to operate them legally. “Deceivingly powerful e-bikes pose a significant danger to children,” Thihalolipavan said.
He said the alert includes a request for the medical community. Beyond routine screens for e-bike use during visits, he said clinicians should use two specific medical codes to better track injuries on the vehicles.
“It is possible e-bike injuries are being unreported due to being misclassified as non-electric bicycle injuries. Getting better data will help us highlight the seriousness of this public health issue,” he said.
Earlier this month, a 12-year-old boy riding an e-bike suffered life-threatening injuries after colliding with a car in Carmel Valley, according to San Diego police.
Lawson-Remer said she is planning to host several safety classes and helmet giveaways in communities throughout the county.
“We can keep e-bikes as a fun, healthy way to get around – but only if we treat safety like it matters,” she said.
