Alberta doctor says e-bike, e-scooter laws are ‘long overdue’

As temperatures begin to dip and leaves begin to hit the ground this fall, Albertans can expect to see fewer e-scooters and e-bikes as the snow and ice gradually returns.

But could the rides see new rules the next time they’re rolled out, with the province looking to improve public safety and responsible use?

This comes after two recent collisions involving electric dirt bikes in the province’s capital.

In Edmonton, an 11- and 12-year-old riding an electric dirt bike were involved in a collision with a car near Windermere Boulevard and Terwillegar Drive, which landed them in the hospital.

Nearly a month ago, a 16-year-old also riding an electric dirt bike in St. Albert crashed into an SUV and was taken to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in an ambulance with what was described as concerning injuries.

And in May, an e-scooter rider in Calgary sustained minor injuries in a collision with a car in the city’s Beltline neighbourhood.

Edmonton police say they’ve recorded 31 major injury collisions involving e-bikes and e-scooters since 2021, five of which have been fatal.

READ: 10 kids died last year from e-scooter and e-bike injuries, data shows

Dr. Brian Rowe at the University of Alberta Hospital says hundreds of patients are admitted to Edmonton’s emergency departments with e-bike and scooter injuries every year.

Rowe points to speed, substance use and a lack of protective gear – like helmets – as a consistent factor in their injuries, which have been on the rise steadily since 2019 when they were introduced.

Even more concerning, he says, is the number of children injured riding e-bikes and scooters, particularly 10- to 15-year-olds. They have emerged as a problematic age group, especially when it comes to head injuries.

He wants new laws to curb the trend.

“These are not bicycles. These are not toys. They are fast-moving devices that could kill or maim your child,” Dr. Rowe said.

RELATED: Alberta government looking into rules for electric dirt bikes

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith admitted on her weekly radio show the technology is outpacing existing laws and that she’s discussed new recommendations with Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen.

“This is a very serious area that is needing some regulation,” the premier said on “Your Province, Your Premier” on Sept. 12. “Do we ban them? I think we probably could set some speed limits. We could probably set some limits on where they’re able to go. We probably need to set some limits on age, if you’re going to be using them, and what kind of protective gear they would be.”

Transportation Minister Dreeshen says the province is looking to new laws that would be enforced by cities, but there is no timeline for when that would happen.

Dr. Rowe says the sooner, the better.

“There’s very little legislation. There’s no enforcement, and we really need to do something to change the trajectory of these injuries,” he said.

“It’s long overdue.”