Pediatric doctors seek greater education for those riding electronic bikes, scooters

A doctor says she has been surprised by “creative uses” of electronic bicycles and scooters.

That sounds good, but it’s not.

“I’ve seen adults riding with young children on them, and even adults riding with babies in carriers on them,” said Dr. Sadiqa Kendi, a pediatric emergency physician at the Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.

As these vehicles return to neighborhoods along with spring showers and flowers, she’ll likely treat young patients with broken bones, head injuries and, perhaps, organ damage from falling on handlebars.

“It started several years ago, but there has been a really significant rise in the number of children riding e-scooters and e-bikes over the last few years,” said Kendi, also chief medical officer for the international nonprofit, Safe Kids Worldwide.

“Because there’s been a rise in the number of children using these, we’ve seen a significant rise in the number of children being injured,” Kendi said.

Dr. Bassam Kawadry of Naperville experiences this trend as the medical director of the pediatric emergency department at Ascension Saint Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates.

He has also seen an increase in injuries to people using the motorized vehicles.

“Mostly teenagers,” Kawadry said.

He said the majority have bone fractures, and individuals who suffer serious injuries usually do not wear a helmet.

“And some of them, unfortunately, they have life-changing trauma,” Kawadry added.

Illinois breaks down e-bikes into three classifications based on the level of assistance the motor provides. Two classes max out at 20 mph — the same as the speed limit for an e-scooter on a public road. The third class includes bikes with engines that cut out when a rider reaches 28 mph. None of these can be ridden on sidewalks.

Off road, the scooters can more than double the state limit.

“I don’t think parents and caregivers often recognize how fast the e-scooters and e-bikes can go,” Kendri said.

Both “not appreciating that speed” and failing to realize how long it takes to stop can get younger riders in trouble, Kawadry said. He agrees with American Academy of Pediatrics guidance that e-scooters should not be used by children under 16.

Among the many suburbs that have started to regulate use of these vehicles — while others await further state guidance — Carol Stream in 2025 passed an ordinance that requires e-bike operators to be at least 16 years old and hold a driver’s license, while e-scooter users must be at least 18.

Kawadry would even support instruction on par with learning to drive a car.

“I don’t think (children) have the skills or the coordination or are taking precautions, like helmet, special gear, and probably are not familiar with the machine itself. I don’t really think they have the skills to figure them out, or they have tried, or they have been trained,” he said.

Kawadry places the responsibility on parents to insure that children first learn how to operate an e-scooter or e-bike properly, and use all the right gear, particularly a helmet.

“Just simply to have a gift of a scooter to your kids — ‘Johnny, this is your birthday gift, go ahead and have fun’ — that’s where I see the risk, and the danger, too.”

A safer ride

Dr. Bassam Kawadry suggests some measures that users of e-scooters can take to avoid serious injuries.

• Check the electric scooter before riding: handlebars, brakes, throttle, bell, lights, tires, cables and frame.

• Always wear a helmet.

• Learn how to properly use the brake and understand how long it takes for the electric scooter to stop.

• Alert others and make yourself visible. Since electric scooters are quiet, other road users might not notice one nearby. Use a bell or horn to alert others.

• Don’t text while riding.

• Don’t wear earbuds.

• Use bike lanes whenever they are available.