Posted on 02/28/2024 7:08:56 AM PST by george76
Since 2017, hospitalizations due to e-bike injuries have risen 43-fold,
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Over 45,000 Americans were injured as a result of e-bike injuries between 2017 and 2022, indicating a 30-fold rise in the number of injuries caused by the popular mode of transportation. Nearly one in 10 of those injuries required hospitalization.
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2022, e-bikes accounted for 4 percent of the bike market in the United States, up from 0.06 percent in 2015.
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between 2017 and 2022, the number of injuries rose from 751 to 23,493—over a 108 percent annual increase.
Men were those most often injured, receiving between 69 percent and 79 percent of the injuries throughout the five years. Injuries were fairly evenly distributed among age groups, with 18- to 34-year-olds averaging between 30 percent and 46 percent of the injuries; 35- to 54-year-olds averaging between 11 percent and 40 percent of injuries; and those over 55 averaging between 17 percent and 20 percent of the injuries. In 2017, individuals between 18 and 34 comprised 63 percent of all reported e-bike injuries.
The types of injuries reported also varied, with no specific injury dominating. Fractures and dislocations were the most common injury, averaging between 20 percent and 38 percent. Head injuries accounted for between 22 percent and 36 percent of injuries, and injuries to the upper extremities ranged between 23 percent and 36 percent.
The severity of injuries also increased over the years, with more patients requiring hospitalization. Between 2017 and 2022, the data indicated a 43-fold increase in hospitalizations.
The data indicated helmet use varied from year to year. About 50 percent of e-bike riders wore helmets in 2017. Use peaked at 62 percent in 2019 and 2020 before dropping to 36 percent in 2022. The research team noted that the increase in head injuries—which was at its lowest in 2017—is likely due to a decreased use of helmets. The risk of receiving a head injury was 1.9 times higher for riders who did not wear a helmet. The team found, however, that wearing a helmet was uncommon. “Only 44 percent of injured e-bicyclists wore helmets, with proportionally fewer wearing helmets each year,” the study authors reported, adding that “although helmet use by e-bicyclists varies worldwide, Swiss studies report helmet use as high as 69 percent.”
State Regulations Attempt to Prevent Injuries..
States have worked to adopt laws regulating e-bike use throughout the United States. Much of the legislation focuses on how to classify the e-bike, determining whether it is a scooter, moped, or traditional bike. That classification typically determines who can ride e-bikes and where. For example, 36 states have three-class systems for e-bikes. These classes indicate the varying types of e-bikes available on the market, from road bikes and cruisers to those better suited for mountain biking. The reasoning behind these laws and classifications is that placing the right bike on a suitable surface helps keep people safer and helps avoid further injury.
They need to redesign the bike helmet. It makes people who wear them look like a dork.
Retirees putt around the neighborhoods at about 10mph but those whom we might call “Florida Man” use them as primary transportation and cruise along closer to 20mph on the major roads. Most of the “Florida Man” group have lost their licenses to drive because of DUI convictions and are very likely to still be under the influence while riding e-bikes.
30mph on a frame that weighs 35lbs.
Zig Zagging on sidewalks, weaving in and out of traffic.
Who could have known?
Since 2017, hospitalizations due to e-bike injuries have risen 43-fold,
How many e-bikes were there in 2016? #facepalm
I saw one guy on a unicycle going 50km/hr.
How fast is that in Christian measurements?
;)
People ride them without gear. The ebikes themselves have terrible suspensions and brakes compared to motorcycles. The results are predictable.
Have you seen this one?
https://eridepros.com/product/pro-ss-19/
It goes 60MPH straight out of the box.
I spoke to the company last week. Some young guy in Cali.
They sell everyone they can get delivered to the USA.
I asked him IF they had any dealers in New England. The answer is none. Closest one is in NYS.
I’m sticking with my own two feet to get around!
2 wings and a prayer.
I’m in the market... What e-bike do you like?
The risk of fire with a standard, un-tampered-with battery and charger pair from a recognized manufacturer is extremely low. Don’t try to charge the battery when frozen, of course.
Theft is much greater concern, even if you remove the battery. Lots of things can be removed from securely locked bike with a few tools or even no tools. Whole thing has to be inside and not visible.
We just banned them in our city park and on all greenways. Last Saturday was a beautiful spring day and the exercise track was full of kids riding bicycles, seniors walking dogs, babies in strollers etc. There were a couple of e-bikes on the track blasting by the people going at least 25mph. They used no horns, bells or verbal warnings as they passed people from behind. These are no longer bicycles with assist motors, they are mopeds to say the least.
“I suspect, but don’t know for sure, that the sizes of the battery packs aren’t big enough to generate the heat required to ignite them.”
It isn’t that, it’s just that the OEM charger-battery pair is safe when unmodified and undamaged and operated within normal range of conditions
109,361 cubits per hour. Give or take.
I hope they don’t get banned here, it would be unwarranted discrimination against those of us who operate them responsibly especially when other users of the trail are present. Also, our state law would seem to preclude that.
You have to specify which class of e-bike you’re interested in and then people can respond. There isn’t that much in common between a cargo e-bike, a cruiser, and an e-MTB like I have other than the powertrain, maybe.
If it’s not anchored to a stationary object they’re easy to steal. Just throw them on a truck and they’re gone. And now with tiny portable angle grinders you can cut through just about any lock and seconds.
E-Bikes.. for those to stupid to pedal.
Fair enough. I think a hard-tail MTB e-bike. Whatever class it is that will do both pedal-assist and full power. Looking for sub-$1500 hopefully. Many of them can run up to $7k which is not in my plans.
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