Wisconsin officials warn parents about rising e-bike and e-scooter injuries
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A warning for parents in Wisconsin about the dangers of e-bikes and scooters. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation says crashes are rising, even as incidents involving these e-vehicles remain underreported.
Law enforcement says these accidents are underreported because they often only learn about them when the rider of an e-vehicle is involved in a crash with a motor vehicle. Even those crashes are on the rise.
"What I am struggling with as a parent is I am blaming myself for buying this thing," Jamie Cline, whose son was involved in an e-vehicle crash, said.
An emotional Cline shared the story of his son, Garrett, who was badly injured in an e-trike crash at age 10. The accident left him with permanent scarring and his jaw wired shut for 12 days.
"Garret had a broken orbital eye socket, a broken jaw among other nerve damages," Cline said.
Garrett was treated at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, and the hospital says cases like his are increasing year over year among kids 18 and under.
"In April and May of this year in 2026 we've already had 36 injuries this is an increase of 483 percent," Dr. Nicholas Kuehnel, an emergency medicine physician with UW Health Kids, said.
This trend of increasing injuries is happening statewide. According to the Department of Transportation, from 2022 to 2025, Wisconsin saw sharp increases in e-vehicle crashes and injuries. Reported e-scooter crashes increased 260%, e-bike crashes increased 171%, e-scooter injuries increased 240%, and e-bike injuries increased 171%.
That's why some organizations are hoping lawmakers will create clear guidelines during the 2027 legislative session.
"We are hoping to work again in the new legislature to get some more uniform rules and regulations passed around these whether that's licensing, age limits or retailer restrictions," Jake Newborn, assistant director of the Wisconsin Bicycle Federation, said.
The Wisconsin Bicycle Federation helped e-bikes become legal in Wisconsin in 2019. The organization says regulations are still needed, particularly for online retailers. The organization says that when people buy these e-vehicles online, they are often not the correct class and can travel faster than is legal or age-appropriate. The organization has resources online for parents and riders to help them understand what to look for.
Officials say parents who have purchased one of these e-vehicles for their children should ask whether the device fits their child's size and ability, whether they have proper safety gear, and where they can legally ride. They also recommend wearing reflective clothing and front and rear lights when riding at night. UW Health Kids has created a guide for parents that can be found here.