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In densely populated cities, mobility is taking the form of walking, cycling, and other forms of transit more and more. In India, for instance, only 10% of travel is done by cars. Trips of not more than 10 km are taken with the use of small, lightweight media running at typical speeds of less than 15 mph. In the US, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) records docked and dockless bikeshare and e-scooter systems as thriving transportation modes from 2015 to 2020, declining only in the last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traveling through notorious city traffic is now easier with micromobility involving ride-sharing of bikes and electric scooters. With just a few clicks on an app and a nominal charge on your credit card, you can utilize these compact modes of transportation from one dock to another. The question now is, aren’t these small vehicles a safety risk for all motorists and pedestrians?

As populations are slowly beginning to adapt to the pandemic, public restrictions are gradually easing, and more people are returning to work and various outdoor activities. Travel via public rideshare bikes and electric scooters is expected to pick up again. So should public awareness about and practice of road safety.

What is Micromobility and Bike sharing?

Micromobility involves the use of compact, lightweight, low-occupancy modes of transport, electric or human-powered, moving at typical speeds below 15 mph for distances under 10 km.

Bikeshare and electric scooters are popular types ofmicromobility. Bikesharing services have, since 2010 in the US, been providing bicycles, and recently – e-scooters – for public use with per-trip, daily, monthly, or annual fees. The vehicles are docked in self-service stations where commuters can pick them up and then deposit them back in another location’s dock. Recently, though, more systems are installed into bike and scooter fleets technology that allows for “dockless” convenience and wider accessibility.

Bikesharing is widely-used for short-distance mobility and is being pushed to become an official mass transport option, especially for under-served locations.

The Hazards of Cycling and Electric Scooters

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Electric scooters are an integral element in the micromobility trend that’s now being touted as the ultimate direction of urban transportation in the face of the seemingly insoluble problem of traffic congestion. Injuries, however, are likewise on the rise among micromobility commuters who are vulnerable to cars and larger vehicles, as well as to road fixtures such as street signs, fire hydrants, and light posts.

A published study shows an increase in e-scooter and bike-related injuries, particularly to the head and neck, since the introduction of public rideshare systems. Data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission indicate that there were over 100.000 e-scooter injuries reported from 2009-2019, with 28% of that figure consisting of head and neck injuries.

The common types of e-scooter and bike-related injuries to the head and neck were found to be:

Among cyclists, neck pain is among the most common, more minor, medical complaints. Cycling entails maintaining a constant position where a rider’s back is flexed, putting strain on the neck. The good news here is that this can be addressed easily with home remedies or a visit to a vehicle accident chiropractor and by a few adjustments to one’s posture and the bike itself.

As more commuters partake of these low-cost and convenient modes of transit, especially within dense urban locales and university campuses, medical officials believe there is a need for improved national regulations, as well as user education, focused on ride safety and precautions.

Avoiding Injury from Micromobility

Research about safety reveals that bike and e-scooter accidents involved road obstacles such as manhole covers, posts, and curbs, as well as other vehicles. Other road accidents are caused by distracted driving and malfunctioning mechanisms such as failing wheels and brakes.

If you are to ride an electric scooter or bike, whether for transport or recreation, follow these procedures to improve your safety and mitigate risks of injury:

Critics of micromobility ridesharing are concerned about the proliferation of small bikes and e-scooters on public roads. Governments are being called upon to regulate the use and driver qualification of commuters who opt for these compact, low-cost transportation alternatives. Public safety awareness and practice need to progress along with traffic innovation.