Rideshare startup dismisses e-scooter injury survey

About 1,500 people have been treated for injuries from using battery-powered electric scooters in the US since the craze began in late 2017, a Consumer Reports survey showed.

The non-profit consumer magazine said its tally, based on reports from hospitals and emergency officials, was incomplete and did not include four reported fatalities linked to escooters. Still, it counted 1,542 cases of emergency treatment for scooter-related injuries after contacting 110 hospitals and five agencies in 47 cities where the two biggest scooter companies operate.

The scooter rideshare craze, which enables consumers to rent and drop the two-wheeled devices for short trips, has been hailed as a potential revolution for urban transport.

But the media has highlighted the potential dangers of scooter use on both sidewalks and city streets.

This week a 21-year-old Irish exchange student died after being struck by a car on his scooter in Austin, Texas.

Consumer Reports said on Tuesday hospitals had treated people for concussions, nasal fractures, arm fractures, and other injuries, some requiring surgery. While major e-scooter firms encouraged users to wear helmets, there are few regulations requiring them.

The magazine said many medical professionals suggested the total number of injuries was higher than the reported figure because hospitals didn’t have the capability yet to accurately track specific scooter-related injuries. “Electric scooters are a promising new transportation option, but safety must always come first,” said William Wallace, a senior policy analyst for Consumer Reports.

It may be complicated to assess the safety of scooters compared with bicycles, for example, without better data on how many people use scooters.

Paul White, director of safety at US-based startup Bird, said the injury figures lacked context and didn’t take into account that scooters reduced auto traffic. “Driving is much deadlier for everyone, as evidenced by the 6,000 pedestrians killed on US roads in 2017,” White said. “We’re proud to provide a transportation alternative that gets people out of cars.” –

Electric scooters are a promising new transport option