Kids' e-scooter injuries are on the rise

The U.S. is seeing a rise in electric scooter injuries — particularly among children, according to data compiled by ERideHero, a consumer guide to electric micro-mobility.

Why it matters: E-scooters, despite their well-publicized boom and bust history, have become mainstream in many cities — including Houston — yet lack the safety guardrails that govern other types of transportation.

• People often ride them on sidewalks, for instance, and without helmets.
• Children zip around on adult-sized scooters that go much faster than many parents realize.

The big picture: Some 81 million people took trips on shared e-scooters in the U.S. last year, according to the North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association.

• Approximately 150,000 shared scooters are deployed across the U.S. every day.
• Scooters can be a clean, convenient way to travel, but there are also increased risks.

By the numbers: E-scooter injuries rose nationwide by 80% to nearly 116,000 in 2024, according to ERideHero's 2025 Electric Scooter Accident Report.

• Accidents among children more than doubled, with nearly 18,000 kids under 15 getting hurt. More than 18% of e-scooter injuries last year were head trauma.
• People between 15-24 suffered the most injuries, accounting for more than 23%.

• In Houston, the number of e-scooter crashes increased from three in 2021 to 23 in 2024, including two deaths, per the city.

State of play: Houston is considering banning e-scooters in the city's densest neighborhoods.

• Mayor John Whitmire, who introduced the proposal this summer, says a ban would improve public safety in downtown and other areas where teens and young adults rent e-scooters and zip through traffic and sidewalks.

The bottom line: "The 80% jump in just one year can't be explained by adoption alone," says Rasmus Barslund, founder of ERideHero.

• "I think we're seeing the consequences of treating e-scooters like toys instead of vehicles," he adds.