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E-scooter-related injuries among children are on the rise, according to new data from B.C. Children’s Hospital, as the devices grow in popularity across the province.
The hospital says its emergency department saw 81 visits related to e-scooter use among children and youth from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 — more than double the 37 visits recorded the year before.
Under provincial rules, e-scooter riders must be at least 16 years old, but B.C. Children’s says the highest proportion of emergency visits (54 per cent) were among children aged 13 to 15.
Dr. Shelina Babul, director of the B.C. Injury Research and Prevention Unit at the hospital, says many parents are simply unaware of the rules.
“I think there’s a lack of understanding, lack of education around who should be riding e-scooters,” she said.
“Speed is the biggest factor and not wearing a helmet. Just yesterday I saw someone on their e-scooter with their helmet in their backpack.”
New federal data reveals e-scooter injuries requiring hospitalization are surging among young people under the age of 17. In the last year, 81 young patients were admitted for e-scooter injuries. The year before there were just 37. Nearly all were male. Dr. Shelina Babul from the B.C. Children’s Hospital tells us what they’re seeing regarding hospital visits and e-scooter injuries.
B.C. Children’s says 35 per cent of the emergency visits involved fractures, while 26 per cent of the patients had bruises and abrasions and 17 per cent had concussions.
E-scooter rule enforcement
B.C. has been testing the use of electric kick scooters on public roads under a four-year pilot project that now includes 36 communities, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Victoria, Kelowna and Prince George.
The pilot allows e-scooters in participating communities but only under specific rules. Riders must be at least 16, wear a helmet and use an e-scooter that cannot travel faster than 25 km/h.
Riders can face a $109 fine, impoundment or other penalties for breaking those rules.
