An increase in hospital admissions linked to electric bike accidents is raising safety concerns.
E-bikes
Data obtained by The Telegraph through Freedom of Information laws reveals a year-on-year rise in accident and emergency visits connected to e-bikes, although it does not specify whether the injured were riders or pedestrians.
The figures expose the impact of e-bike accidents, with young children and elderly people in their 80s and 90s among those most at risk and requiring emergency care.
Speaking to the BBC recently, Dr Nick Aresti explained that people tend to come off e-bikes at higher speeds, resulting in more severe injuries.
He said: "What we've noticed with e-bikes is that the speed in which people are coming off is much higher and as a result, the injuries are much worse."
E-bikes - officially known as Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (EAPCs) - have grown rapidly in popularity across the UK, offering a cheaper and more accessible alternative to cars and public transport. Under current rules, anyone aged 14 or over can legally ride one, provided the motor output does not exceed 250 watts and the bike cannot assist speeds above 15.5mph (25km/h).
Unlike cars or motorbikes, e-bikes do not require a licence, registration, tax or insurance, which has contributed to their widespread adoption. However, safety experts warn that this ease of access may also be contributing to rising accident rates.
An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, could see cycling offences brought more in line with driving offences, potentially introducing stricter penalties for dangerous riding.