Preventing E-Bike Injuries

You've probably seen them zipping through your neighborhood or around town. Electric bikes, or e-bikes, are a popular way to get around.

But as ridership grows, so has the number of accidents that send people to Wilcox Medical Center.

"We have seen an upswing in injuries related to e-bikes," says Dr. Daniel Judd, an orthopedic surgeon at Wilcox.

Dr. Judd and the Wilcox team are accustomed to helping kids on Kaua'i heal from broken bones. Recently, this has included pediatric trauma from bicycles with electric motors.

"The injury patterns we've been seeing are more in line with higher-energy motorcycles than kids riding traditional bikes," Dr. Judd says.

"There's some awareness in the community, but for parents, I say it's better to think of e-bikes more like motorcycles than bicycles."

Recently, Hawai'i expanded its regulations on e-bikes, which are defined as bicycles with fully operational pedals and an electric motor with no more than 750 watts. The most powerful "Class 3" e-bikes provide motor power until the bicycle reaches 28 mph.

"It's better to think of e-bikes more like motorcycles than bicycles."

"Common injuries are wrist and forearm fractures, but we've also seen tibia and foot fractures of varying degrees, and head injuries," Dr. Judd says. "The more serious injuries are mainly due to collisions - not with other vehicles, but with people, telephone poles, and other objects - because riders are moving a lot faster than they would with a regular bicycle."

That is why Dr. Judd says it's important to wear appropriate safety gear.

State law requires kids under 16 to have parental supervision, and helmets for anyone under age 18, regardless of whether they're riding an e-bike or a regular bicycle. Dr. Judd also suggests considering protective body padding or armor, like those worn by motorcycle riders.