Scivillage.com Casual Discussion Science Forum

Full Version: Electric scooter & bike accidents soar (EV tech)
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1052159

INTRO: In the crowded urban landscape, where small electric vehicles – primarily scooters and bicycles – have transformed short distance travel, UC San Francisco researchers are reporting a major national surge in accidents tied to “micromobility.”

E-bicycle injuries doubled every year from 2017 to 2022, while e-scooter injuries rose by 45 percent each year. Injured e-riders tended to be slightly older and wore helmets less often than conventional riders. And e-scooter riders were more likely to sustain internal injuries than conventional scooter riders, while upper extremity injuries were more common among non-EV riders.

The researchers analyzed injuries and hospitalizations from electric bicycles, electric scooters, conventional bicycles and conventional scooters. The study, which appears July 23 in JAMA Network Open, is believed to be the first investigation into recent injury patterns in the U.S... (MORE details, no ads)
In the UK, for reasons known only to themselves, bike riders (EV and pedal) favour dark inconspicuous colours both at night (often without lights) and during the day. My peripheral vision is tuned for human motion - a dark motionless figure gets flagged as stationary even when it is sitting on a bike travelling at 25 mph. Over time I expect evolution to favour cyclists making some effort to be seen.