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E-Scooter Rides Surge, Injury Data Lags
30 Nov
Summary
- Over 118,000 e-scooter and e-bike rides occurred in six months.
- Injury data from e-scooter use is not specifically tracked.
- Hospitals are beginning to collect more detailed injury data.
Halifax's pilot program for e-scooters and e-bikes has recorded an impressive 118,246 rides within its initial six months of operation. The majority of these rides, 104,406, were on e-scooters, highlighting their popularity. Despite this high usage, obtaining specific data on injuries sustained by riders has proven challenging.
Nova Scotia Health stated that emergency departments do not categorize visits by the cause of injury, focusing instead on the injury itself. This lack of specific tracking makes it difficult to quantify the risks associated with the micromobility program. However, healthcare professionals are increasingly focused on this issue.
Efforts are underway to improve data collection. The IWK children's hospital is collaborating with other city emergency departments to gather comprehensive injury data for both children and adults, with research expected to commence next summer. This initiative aims to inform injury prevention strategies and better understand the impact of e-scooter use.