People have started having more scooter accidents

The arrival of Lime’s electric scooter revolution in Brisbane has coincided with a worrying increase in traumatic injuries including shattered bones, fractures and concussions.

PARAMEDICS have delivered an urgent warning about electric scooters after treating dozens of riders for traumatic injuries including shattered bones, fractures and head injuries.

The spike in horrific injuries has coincided with the arrival of US scooter company Lime, which has been operating hundreds of machines around Brisbane’s CBD since mid-November.

The city’s emergency departments have recorded about 60 scooter related injuries since the start of the trial, which has since been expanded under the Brisbane City Council.

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Queensland Ambulance Service bicycle response team paramedic Madeline Shield said crews were responding to several electric scooter related incidents in and around the city every week, particularly on weekends.

“Most incidents relate to the rider themselves falling off or crashing but there have also been close calls with pedestrians and other scooter and bicycle riders,” she said.

“We’re treating injuries including fractures, dislocations, cuts and grazes as well as head injuries.”

Malgorzata Pasieczna rides a Lime scooter. Picture: Peter Wallis

Lime’s trial is set to run until the end of February when the Brisbane City Council will decide if it will allow a permanent scheme to operate.

Earlier this week police announced a crackdown on reckless riders after charging a 43-year-old man with drink driving after he allegedly ran a red light in the city before riding in the middle of the road.

Riders are only permitted to ride on roads to cross them or avoid obstructions on footpaths.

Lime Scooters global chief Tony Sun told The Courier-Mail on Friday that Brisbane had been one of the world’s fastest adopters of e-scooters, eclipsing most of the 130 cities where the $5.6 billion company had launched.

He said more than 100,000 people had downloaded the app, clocking more than 300,000 trips since November, and the number of accidents in Brisbane had been significantly less than other cities.

“Generally, we have seen much better behaviour with less injuries and accidents,” he said.

“We don’t know why but we do see people have been behaving better compared to other global markets.”

Brisbane chef Daniel Follett recently had an accident off a Lime scooter which saw him requiring a plate to be inserted to help with a broken femur and fractured pelvis. Picture AAP/David Clark

The company tried to launch on the Gold Coast just after Christmas but postponed the roll out after authorities confiscated some of the scooters, which have a top speed of 27km/h.

Acting Health Minister Mark Bailey said electric scooters were popular and a useful means of transportation but the increase in ambulance call-outs was a reminder that riders needed to use common sense.

“Whether you’re renting an electric scooter, or you own one, respecting others and riding responsibly should be the minimum requirement,” he said.

“Often people using electric scooters are riding one for the first time and their skill level doesn’t always match their confidence level.

“The last thing anyone wants is a hospital visit, so wear a helmet, never ride under the influence of alcohol or drugs, be courteous and watch your speed.

“People riding bikes or skateboards take safety precautions and are expected to respect people they are sharing public space with, it’s no different for people on electric scooters.”