'Alarming Trend': East Bay Trauma Team Cringes Over E-Bike Safety

WALNUT CREEK, CA — E-bikes and e-scooters, popular holiday gifts for teens and children, are causing concern among health care officials.

John Muir trauma center physicians, who treat patients in Contra Costa County and parts of Solano County, are also weighing in with a warning about the popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters and their serious, sometimes fatal, injuries.

In 2025, the John Muir Trauma Team treated twice as many injuries to e-bike and e-scooter riders as in the previous year. They also treated pedestrians hit by these vehicles. Kacey Hansen, executive director of trauma and acute care surgery at John Muir Health, said in a statement, “This is an alarming trend.”

The types of neurological and orthopedic injuries are much closer to those often associated with motorcycle accidents than conventional bike accidents, according to the center.

Speed is a significant distinction, as some e-bikes can travel up to 28 m.p.h. or faster with simple modifications. Greater speeds increase the risk of severe collisions and serious or fatal injuries.

Seniors and teenagers, particularly teenage boys, are most frequently involved in these incidents.

The center reported that the injuries John Muir Health’s Trauma Center is seeing mirror trends nationwide.

According to the American College of Surgeons:

• Annually, over 20,000 e-bike riders are injured, with about 3,000 hospitalized—a likely undercount.
• The rate of e-bike injuries is increasing annually.
• Head injuries occur most frequently, and only a third of injured patients were wearing helmets.

Everyone who currently rides or has a family member who rides an e-bike or e-scooter should be aware of the risks and how to operate one safely. That includes the Trauma Center’s recommendations:

• Understand the different classes of e-bikes (1-3) and the specific safety requirements for each. By law, children under 16 may not operate a Class 3 e-bike.
• Know the rules for e-bikes, regular bikes, e-scooters, cars, and motorcycles. Pay special attention to where bikes and scooters can be ridden. Check local city and county regulations, as rules may differ.
• Always wear a helmet that fits securely and is appropriate for your e-bike class. Proper helmet use is crucial, as head injuries on e-bikes are often as severe as those from motorcycle accidents.
• Parents should know what type of e-bike or e-scooter they are buying for their child, ensure the speed is not modified, and review both safety guidelines and local laws with their child.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against children under 16 operating or riding on e-bikes or e-scooters.

There are several resources available to learn about the right type of e-bike for the rider:

• Electric Bike Safety and Training Course

• California’s Electric Bicycle Law

• Walnut Creek Police Department Safety Tips and Rules of the Road -

“To avoid traumatic injury, young people in our community need help developing safe habits and learning how to make good decisions,” said Hansen. “Operating an e-bike or e-scooter safely is no different than knowing how to safely operate any other motorized vehicle. We want to see people riding safely and responsibly, not showing up in our Trauma Center.”

Related:

E-Bike Enforcement On East Bay Trails

Walnut Creek And E-Bikes: A Video With Mayor, Police For E-Bike Christmas Shopping

Walnut Creek Faces E-Bike Risks, Rewards: How The City Is Addressing The Challenge

Tackling E-Bike Enforcement On City Streets