Pediatric ER sees double the e-bike injuries as speeds climb
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital admitted 84 children with electric vehicle injuries in the first eight months of 2026.
By Sakura Ellis ·
The number of children hospitalized for electric bike and scooter injuries has jumped sharply this year. At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, 84 kids were admitted for such injuries from January through August 2026. That total is more than double the count recorded for all of 2025.
Dr. Wendy Pomerantz, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at the hospital, attributes the rise to higher speeds and poor safety habits. She noted that many riders skip helmets, leading to head trauma. The admissions also include broken limbs and internal damage to organs like the liver, spleen, and chest. In 2021, only three children required hospital stays for these specific injuries.
Pomerantz advises against letting children under 16 ride e-scooters. For e-bikes, she recommends Class 1 models that use pedal assistance. She stated that only a quarter of people wear helmets. The increased power of electric vehicles makes it easier for young riders to lose control, hit obstacles, or crash in intersections.
The physician said the injuries are severe enough that she does not allow her own son to ride an electric scooter. She described her refusal to him as a firm no, citing the risk of serious harm. The data reflects a trend where electric vehicles are causing injuries that were less common with manual bikes.
The hospital’s records show a clear increase in admissions over the past five years. The current pace suggests the full year of 2026 will exceed previous totals. Pomerantz continues to monitor the cases in the emergency department to track the types of injuries occurring.
