E-bike and e-scooter injuries are rising among Connecticut kids as one school district moves to ban them

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - Children’s hospitals are reporting a surge in e-bike and e-scooter injuries among kids and teens, and one Connecticut school district is responding with a ban.

Connecticut Children’s treated more than 120 patients for e-bike or e-scooter injuries between May and July of this year. Last weekend alone, five kids or teens were sent to the emergency department for e-scooter injuries. Amy Watkins, manager of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children’s, said the most common age for injuries is 9 to 13.

“Sometimes, people ride them without the skills and safety gear they need to do so safely,” Watkins said.

The Fairfield School District is now banning e-bikes and e-scooters on campus unless the student is at least 16 years old and has a driver’s license. The superintendent cited recent local incidents as evidence of how quickly the devices “can become dangerous, especially if ridden improperly or modified for excessive speed.”

Joe Oppedisano, a Fairfield parent, said he understands the concern but believes the ban targets the wrong students. His 14-year-old son, Joejoe, rides his e-bike to practice with his father trailing behind to make sure he rides safely.

“I just don’t understand. They should be focused on the kids messing around, messing up properties, doing wheelies. They should get ticketed. The kids going to school or practice, I don’t see why they’re holding them back,” Oppedisano said.

He also said e-bikes serve a practical purpose for families.

“I think it’s crazy because parents can’t bring their kids to practice all the time. It’s easier for us to have either a scooter or an e-bike,” Oppedisano said.

Watkins said the answer is preparation, not prohibition. She said helmets are essential, but full protective gear matters too.

“They should have wrist guards, elbow guards and knee pads,” Watkins said.

Connecticut Children’s recommends that parents talk to their kids about the rules of the road, safe places to ride, how to navigate traffic, and how to properly control, stop and steer before they ever ride on a street.