PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The popularity of electric bicycles and scooters is on the rise, and unfortunately, so are injuries.
Last weekend, two girls riding an e-scooter were hit by a car in Aston, Delaware County. One of the girls, 12-year-old Abby Gillon, died from her injuries. The other girl, 11-year-old Isabella Jones, remains in critical condition.
“We’ve had an uptick in electrical bicycle and scooter injuries over the past year,” said Dr. Charles Paidas, division director of general surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. “The most common ones are facial abrasions, long bone fractures and burns associated with the actual events of the fall.”
He said head injuries top the list because many people ride without helmets.
“It seems like it’s the same war, different battle each time,” he said. “No helmet being worn. Not respecting the use of the sidewalk. Not respecting control of the bike or scooter. Not respecting age limits.”
Proper battery care is also important.
“An explosion of the lithium battery, if you are in proximity to it, could yield significant burns for life,” Paidas added.
🎧 RELATED
According to the American College of Surgeons, more than 20,000 e-bike riders are injured each year, and approximately 3,000 of them are hospitalized. The organization said critical safety concerns must be addressed, as well as standardized e-bike regulations.
Among the recommendations: categorizing e-bikes based on speed and power, implementing age restrictions for riders, and mandating safety equipment, such as helmets.
In the wake of Abby’s death, her family is pushing for a law that would require kids to wear helmets on scooters. State Sen. Tim Kearney (D-Delaware County) said he would like to discuss possible legislation further.