As the popularity of electric scooters and electric bikes continues to rise among children and teens in Southern California, the nasty rise in serious or fatal crashes involving these vehicles has been linked to authorities and community members.
A study published in the medical journal Jama Network shows that there were more than twice as many e-bike injuries each year, from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022.
Injuries from Rishing E-Scooters rose 45% over the same period, up from 8,566 in 2017 to 56,847 in 2022, researchers found.
A person is riding his bike on the strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times by Getty Images) A young woman riding an electric scooter in Santa Monica on July 13, 2018 (credit: Robinbeck/AFP via Getty Images) The boy rides his bike on the strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times by Getty Images) People ride e-bikes on the strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (via Melmercon/Los Angeles Times Getty Images) Head injuries, fractures, amputations, and bruises: These are some of the injuries that have been hit by more than 200 riders on electric scooter riders. (Credit: CNN) Scooters are perfect for short commutes around town. Many electric scooters offer battery power and kick power options, as they can still use the scooter as a kick scooter after the battery dies. The rollerblader rides behind the E-Bike while on the strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) People get 14 mph on the Strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) People ride e-bikes on the strands of Hermosa Beach. In Hermosa Beach, using electricity on the strands is against the city code, but many E-bike riders do so anyway. (Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Bird Rides, Inc. Shareable electric scooter. On October 2, 2019, we are waiting for use on the pedestrian sidewalk in downtown Cincinnati. Electric Scooter Company Bird Global announced on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 that it filed for bankruptcy protection to stabilize its wobble finances. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, file)
On March 29, 11-year-old Emiliano Flores was on an electric scooter when he was hospitalized with serious injuries after colliding with a sedan. The crash occurred on a nearby street near Elliott Way and Caliente Road.
“As soon as I came out I heard a little boy crying,” said a neighbor who heard the crash outside her house. “I got a glimpse into his face, and it was very swollen. It was purple and his eyes looked swollen.”
The vehicle’s windshield is crushed by impact, and the boy’s scooter can be seen clogged under the car.
The 11-year-old boy on an electric scooter was hospitalized after colliding with a vehicle around the Victor Building on March 29, 2025. 29, 2025. (Gofundme) Emiliano Flores, 11, was hospitalized on March 29, 2025 after colliding with a vehicle while riding an electric scooter in the Victorville area. of transport in Southern California. (KTLA) Riding an electric bike is becoming a popular mode of transportation in Southern California. (KTLA)
The boy was taken to the hospital where he suffered from multiple broken bones and then had a long way to recovery. The collision remains under investigation, but residents in the area tell KTLA that they are constantly seeing drivers speeding up on the roads.
The crashes happened in residential areas, but finding people on e-bikes and electronic sumoters can be difficult. In some cases, riders may not follow road rules or don’t know how to ride safely.
A similar incident occurred in Orange on April 1, when two teenagers were hospitalized with serious injuries after they rode a scooter and crashed into a car on the other side of the road.
“This is a problem we see this not only in our jurisdiction, but across Southern California,” says Phil McMullin at the Orange Police Department.
McMullin said complaints about the issue are on a marked increase. He emphasized the importance of not using phones when riding e-scooters or e-bikes, saying it is important to understand where people can legally ride those vehicles and follow traffic laws for the safety of everyone.
“Parents need to look into the law before they buy these bikes for their children or before these kids buy these bikes for themselves,” he said. “There are different levels of street bikes and different categories. If there are illegal types that are not legal on the street, you can’t drive them on the street.”
Tips on how to safely ride an e-scooter or e-bike can be found here or on the Orange County Transportation Department website at the Los Angeles County website. A complete study of e-bike and e-scooter injuries by the JAMA network can be found here.
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