First national data shows a sharp rise in e-scooter and e-bike hospitalisations
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released its first national report on e-scooter and e-bike injuries on 22 October 2026. It found that hospitalisations for falls in the transport group that includes e-scooters rose from 1,291 in 2019 to 2020 to more than 4,000 in 2024 to 2025, according to coverage by ABC News and the Newcastle Herald. Two thirds of those admitted were male, and boys aged 12 to 15 were four times as likely as girls the same age to be hospitalised. Almost three in five patients had a broken bone.
What it says about e-bikes
Hospitalisation rates also rose among riders in the group that includes e-bikes, but the AIHW says e-bike trends are less clear because e-bikes are hard to separate from broader vehicle categories. In 2024 to 2025, 147 people were hospitalised after collisions with vehicles in the e-bike group. AIHW spokesperson Jacqueline Rek said the findings should not be read as precise counts of injuries involving e-scooters or e-bikes alone, and that the data cannot show how much of the change comes from increased use. Researcher Richard Buning told the ABC that purchases of e-mobility devices have grown about 30 per cent a year over the last five years.
Better data is coming
New national hospital codes introduced on 1 July 2026 are meant to separate e-scooters, e-bikes and other e-mobility devices in future figures. That should give regulators a clearer picture. State governments are already acting. Queensland has required riders to be 16 or older and hold a licence since 1 July 2026 (as reported by the ABC), and will require compliance labels on all e-bikes from March 2027. Federal consumer ministers have also asked the ACCC to develop national standards for the sale of e-bikes.
What it means for buyers: the report is a reminder to buy a compliant, properly built e-bike from a retailer that can show it meets the EN 15194 standard (25km/h assist cut-off, 250W rated motor). Rules differ by state, so check yours before you buy. Compare e-bikes on BikeFinder to see motor ratings, price and brand support side by side.