Season 4: Episode 4
E-Bikes and Emergency Rooms: What Every Parent Should Know
E-Bikes and Emergency Rooms: What Every Parent Should Know
They're flying down neighborhood streets. Taking over school parking lots. And fueling some of the most heated parenting debates online.
E-bikes may look like bicycles, but many can reach motorcycle-like speeds without requiring a license, registration or formal training.
As their popularity has surged, so have the injuries. Between 2024 and 2026, Children's saw a 479% increase in e-bike-related injuries. The consequences can be severe, ranging from lacerations and broken bones to traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, organ damage and even amputation.
In this episode, a mother recounts the terrifying moments after her son's e-bike collided with a moving car. Then, a Children's pediatric emergency medicine physician shares what she's seeing on the front lines of a growing trend and what every parent should know before handing over the handlebars.
Whether you're shopping for an e-bike, already have one in your garage or have found yourself deep in a neighborhood social media debate, this episode cuts through the noise with something more valuable: the real stories behind the statistics.
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Danielle Moore, Carter's mom
Danielle never expected her son’s ride home from football practice to end in the emergency room. But when 14-year-old Carter was struck by a vehicle while riding his e-bike near a busy shopping center, he was thrown from the bike and suffered a broken femur. His experience is far from unique. As e-bikes become more common, so do the serious injuries they can cause, sending increasing numbers of children to emergency departments.
Sofia Chaudhary, MD, Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician
Dr. Sofia Chaudhary is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta who cares for children and teens with a wide range of illnesses and injuries, from everyday emergencies to serious trauma. In recent years, she has seen a concerning rise in injuries related to e-bikes and other motorized devices, many of which result in severe and preventable harm. Through her experience in the emergency department, Dr. Chaudhary helps families better understand the importance of helmets, supervision, age-appropriate riding, traffic awareness and other safety measures that can reduce the risk of life-changing injuries. When not at work, she’s happily chasing after her three children.