Metro Detroit doctors see more e-bike injuries
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Metro Detroit doctors are seeing more injuries involving e-bikes and scooters, including serious fractures resembling those suffered in motorcycle crashes.
Why it matters: The experiences of medical professionals could help shape how Michigan policymakers respond to the safety risks posed by increasingly powerful — and popular — electric mobility devices.
Driving the news: Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard joined medical and law enforcement officials last week to highlight the risks of e-bikes, e-scooters and similar vehicles and call for stronger safety measures.
- The Detroit East Medical Control Authority, which oversees EMS in Detroit and several eastern suburbs, recorded 33 serious e-bike injuries requiring ambulance service through July. That's already more than the 21 in all of 2025, per WDIV.
What they're saying: Michael Yusaf, an Auburn Hills orthopedic surgeon who has practiced for about 18 years, tells Axios he's seeing more e-bike and e-scooter injuries than he did five years ago.
- Injuries that were once rare now appear roughly weekly in his practice, although he doesn't track formal case counts.
- Wrist and elbow fractures are among the most common injuries he treats, sometimes requiring surgery.
"What we're seeing is more high-energy injuries that are akin to injuries that you'd see from a motorcycle accident," Yusaf says.
Zoom in: Yusaf says children account for a disproportionate share of the injuries he encounters, while young adults are more likely to suffer e-scooter injuries involving nighttime riding and alcohol.
- He also treats pedestrians struck by e-bikes and scooters, although those cases are less common than injuries to riders themselves.
What's next: As communities consider tighter rules, Yusaf urges parents shopping for e-bikes and scooters this holiday season to understand the risks and make helmets nonnegotiable.
- "Parents need to judge the responsibility of their child to use these devices in a safe manner and to utilize safety equipment every time they ride," he says. "If parents are unsure of either of these, I would be cautious in providing the access to these high-powered vehicles."