E-scooters are popular at college campuses. How can students stay safe?
The use of electric scooters, e-bikes and e-skateboards in the U.S. has seen a dramatic increase in recent years.
With that huge increase has come a startling number of injuries, many of them serious, like broken bones and traumatic head and brain injuries.
According to a 2024 research article published by UC San Francisco, e-bicycle injuries in the U.S. doubled every year from 2017 to 2022, while e-scooter injuries rose by 45% each year.
The article pointed to a study that said “e-bicycle injuries dramatically increased from 751 in 2017 to 23,493 in 2022, and e-scooter injuries rose from 8,566 to 56,847 over that timeframe.”
Popular with college students
Because electric bikes, e-scooters and e-skateboards are popular with college students, campuses across the country have seen a rise in crashes involving the so-called micromobility devices.
Just last month, a CSU Fullerton women’s soccer player died from injuries she suffered in a collision with a truck near campus. She was riding an electric scooter.
E-scooters appear to be the most popular of the micromobility devices, because they’re relatively affordable, sustainable and easy to store.
Some colleges have banned them. Others, like UC Merced, have launched education campaigns on riding safely.
Tips for how to ride safely
A 2024 article by Harvard Health Publishing recommends “common sense” 10 tips. Among them are:
- Slow down. Some e-scooters and e-bikes approach speeds of 30 mph. UC Merced’s speed limit for electric scooters, e-bikes and e-skateboards is 15 mph.
- Wear a helmet, which reduces the chance of serious head injuries.
- Follow road rules. On the UC Merced campus, riding them is prohibited from sidewalks and pedestrian-only areas.
- Announce your presence to others, by shouting “on your left!” to pedestrians.
Tonantzin Oseguera, UC Merced’s vice chancellor for student affairs and engagement, said students are expected to ride by the rules.
“We want all our students to wear helmets, register their devices, and be conscientious about their surroundings,“ Oseguera said in an email. “Starting in January, we will be launching a more robust education campaign that includes accountability if they violate rules of the road.”
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
