Halifax ER doctor warns e-bike, e-scooter injuries show need for better enforcement

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewsNova ScotiaHalifax Halifax ER doctor warns e-bike, e-scooter injuries show need for better enforcement Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg will be publishing a paper on e-bike and e-scooter injuries next year Author of the article: By Josh Healey Published Aug 28, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 3 minute read A e-scooter rider sails down North Park Street on Friday, Aug. 7, 2026. The provincial government is looking to ban kids under 14 from using e-scooters and e-bikes. PHOTO BY RYAN TAPLIN /The Chronicle Herald Article content New data on e-bike and e-scooter injuries suggests authorities are failing to properly regulate the vehicles, a Nova Scotia emergency room doctor says, and some of her patients either don’t know the rules or aren’t following them.  Article content Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatric emergency physician and trauma team leader at IWK Health, has been collecting data related to child and adult e-bike and e-scooter injuries across emergency departments in the Halifax Regional Municipality since May.  Article content Article content Article content It’s no secret injuries have been on the rise, with e-bikes and e-scooters gaining popularity. Halifax, for example, is in the second year of a two-year pilot program with Bird Canada to supply e-bikes and e-scooters as rentals throughout the municipality.  Article content But Weerdenburg’s data has found injuries associated with riding the battery-powered vehicles are significant, causing her to add her voice to those calling for better regulations and enforcement.  Article content “In our data, 20 per cent of patients that were seen in the emergency departments in HRM had what we call a trauma team activation, which means that the injuries were significant enough that they needed a specialized team to assess their injuries,” she told The Chronicle Herald.  Article content “I think that speaks to the speeds of these devices and the kind of general rules that are being abided to, safety rules and the rules of the road. It’s leading to these really significant injuries.”  Article content So, why are the injuries so significant?  Article content There are plenty of rules in place as it pertains to e-bikes and e-scooters.  Article content Article content Nova Scotia has already banned kids under the age of 14 from riding e-scooters. A similar ban for e-bikes…