Electric bikes are fun, environmentally friendly and allow riders to pedal farther and faster. But the number of adolescent e-bike riders on Colorado bike paths and roadways is increasing, and so are the number of serious injuries seen in our hospitals.
Julia Sanders, MD, is an assistant professor of orthopedics at CU Anschutz and a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she treats children and adolescents injured in e-bike crashes. While she understands the appeal of giving kids access to reliable transportation, she and her colleagues are concerned.
“A lot of parents we’ve seen didn’t fully understand the kind of bike they were buying for their kids, and unfortunately the consequences are real,” Sanders said.
In this Q&A, Sanders shares what parents and caregivers should understand about the risks of e-bikes for adolescents and provides tips on ensuring a safer ride.
Key points
E-bike injuries among adolescents are increasing and are often more severe than traditional bike injuries.
Head, neck, facial and internal injuries are more common due to higher speeds and heavier bikes.
Adolescent boys under age 16 are a high-risk group.
Helmet use, bike class selection and rider training reduce injury risk.