E-scooters a ‘significant burden’ on our health system, Brisbane doctors say

Horror injuries caused by e-scooters and e-bikes are becoming an all too common occurrence in Brisbane emergency wards.

Researchers are urging e-scooter and e-bike users to ride carefully after a concerning number of people increasingly present themselves to Brisbane emergency departments.

Almost 800 riders with mobility device-related injuries presented to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Princess Alexandra Hospital or Mater Hospital across the 18 months to May 2020.

RBWH emergency department staff specialist Dr Gary Mitchell said he expected the frequency of injuries to grow as 800 e-bikes joined a doubled fleet of 2000 electric scooters across the city.

The fleet increase came three days after a man in his 50s crashed a private e-scooter and died at West End. Police are investigating whether the man, who was wearing a helmet, had a medical episode before hitting a light pole.

Dr Mitchell said the number of riders who didn’t wear helmets was concerning to emergency department staff who saw half of riders presenting with head injuries had opted to ride without protective gear.

Clinical Researcher Dr Gary Mitchell says there needs to be more awareness around the risk of riding e-scooters. Picture: Richard Walker

Almost one third of Brisbane riders presenting to emergency departments had alcohol in their system.

Dr Mitchell instigated the research with Metro North’s Jamieson Trauma Institute to review the incidence and nature of injuries related to mobility devices.

“They have placed a significant burden on the health care system,” Dr Mitchell said.

“People know you can’t drive a car with alcohol on board or without a seatbelt so why do people feel they can be flying around on these devices with no helmets on?

“People need to better understand the risk associated with these devices, we need pathways developed with these riders in mind and we want strict enforcement and regulation including more speed locking and time limits. After 8pm, these devices might be doing more harm than good.”

JTI researchers found there were spikes in emergency department presentations between noon and midnight, and around weekends.

More than 90 per cent of mobility device-related presentations were e-scooter riders of which 85 per cent were riding hire e-scooters.

Under-35s accounted for almost 70 per cent of cases.

Brisbane City Council’s e-mobility strategy released last month identified safety as a key principle.

Public and Active Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said the council was developing a late-night lockout policy in high-risk areas including the CBD and Fortitude Valley over certain hours, on certain days.