‘E-dirt bikes are not toys’: E.R. doc fears more injuries after 2 kids hit in Edmonton

HEALTH ‘E-dirt bikes are not toys’: E.R. doc fears more injuries after 2 kids hit in Edmonton By Karen Bartko Global News Posted September 11, 2026 5:56 pm Updated September 11, 2026 7:05 pm 5 min read The 11-year-old driver of an electric dirt bike and his 12-year-old passenger were seriously injured after Edmonton polie said they cut off a vehicle turning at the intersection of Windermere Blvd. and Terwillegar Drive. Emergency Room Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti says their injuries could have been much worse and as injury rates continue to increase, is calling on parents to think twice about letting their kids ride electric bikes. Gates Guarin has the details. LEAVE A COMMENT SHARE THIS ITEM ON FACEBOOK SHARE THIS ITEM ON X SEND THIS PAGE TO SOMEONE VIA EMAIL SEE MORE SHARING OPTIONS DESCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE INCREASE ARTICLE FONT SIZE Two youths, years away from being able to obtain their learners permit — let alone full licence to drive on public roads in Alberta — are recovering from serious injuries after being hit in a collision Edmonton police allege they caused. “The trouble is, they don’t have any concept of risk,” Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti said of the mental development of young people. “That part of the brain, through no fault of their own, has not been developed yet.” SHARE THIS ON X CLICK TO SHARE QUOTE ON X: "THAT PART OF THE BRAIN, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, HAS NOT BEEN DEVELOPED YET." The University of Alberta public health professor and emergency physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital said more and more injuries are occurring from riding electric scooters, bicycles and dirt bikes. While e-scooters and e-bikes rented from companies like Lime and Bird have their speed governed to around 20 km/h, more and more people are buying their own private ones that can reach higher speeds. Electric dirt bikes have also become popular. STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT “We thought e-scooters were bad but these go even faster,” Francescutti said on Friday of electric dirt bikes becoming more popular in Alberta. “When you crash, that kinetic energy that’s stored makes all the difference — so doubling your speed quadruples the kinetic energy at the end of the collision. “Unfortunately, we’re going to see more and more of these collisions as these bikes become more and more popular.” SHARE THIS ON X CLICK TO SHARE QUOTE ON X: "UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THESE COLLISIONS AS THESE BIKES BECOME MORE AND MORE…