PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — They’re fun to ride and can get you where you’re going more quickly, but electric bikes and scooters are not the same as their counterparts that don’t have a motor.

Pediatric emergency medicine Dr. Purva Grover with Cleveland Clinic says the past several months she’s seen a spike in tragedies for children from e-bikes.

“Largely there is a huge disconnect in information,” she said. “I think that that’s where all of these issues are leading out to.”

But it’s a problem nationwide regardless of age.

The latest data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows that between 2017 and 2024 there were an estimated 155,200 emergency room visits due to e-bikes. There were also 310 deaths reported.

In that same time period, e-scooters sent an estimated 380,000 people to the emergency room, but Grover believes the numbers are “severely underreported.”

“It’s just a matter of time when we’ll be able to collect this data much more appropriately to really understand the true scope, but I fear that what you’re seeing right now is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Grover.

Grover said it’s important to always wear a properly fitted, certified helmet that’s tested for higher speeds.

She says a regular bicycle helmet may not provide adequate protection.

Grover also said to follow local traffic laws and be aware that large vehicles have blind spots and may not see an e-bike or e-scooter.

“These are 50 to 60 pound big machines which can travel at a speed from anywhere from 20 to 28 mph and can cause significant injuries to the rider and to the passersby as well,” said Gupta.

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