May 2024
In 2023, the number of shared e-scooter and e-bike injuries has continued to fall. This improvement has been achieved thanks to different factors. Technological innovation enabled operators to deploy newer models, while at the same time, operators and cities have invested in education campaigns, and cities have taken action to improve infrastructure.
In comparison with 2022, the number of all reported injuries per million trips declined by 44% for shared e-scooters. With regards to the number of incidents requiring medical treatment and fatal injuries, incidents dropped by 19%.
The trend for shared e-bikes is similar, as the number of all reported injuries per million trips declined by 39%, while the number of incidents requiring medical treatment and fatal injuries dropped by 16%.
When comparing different transport modes, MMfE data shows that the risk of injury requiring a medical treatment while riding an e-scooter is slightly lower than with driving an e-bike, 3.3/million km and 3.9/million km for e-scooters and e-bikes respectively.
Overwhelming majority of injuries were caused due to fall of the user or a collision with a heavier motor vehicle. As data from the European Commission for 2023 show, almost 70% of vulnerable road user fatalities, including cyclists and shared micro-mobility users involve motor vehicles. These findings confirm the recent study by OECD, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and the International Transport Forum (ITF) which has reported that the main reasons behind injuries of micro-mobility users remain inadequate infrastructure and the intoxication by alcohol while the devices employed by shared micro-mobility operators are the safest in comparison with the ones owned by individuals. MMfE continues its determination to achieve Vision Zero and has shared its recommendations which require action beyond micro mobility operators, including investments in safe infrastructure across the EU and support for law enforcement authorities for consequent and fair treatment of traffic rule violators on e-scooters, bikes and cars.
2023 MMfE data is based on more than 300 million e-scooters journeys covering more than 540 million kilometres and more than 58 million e-bikes rides covering more than 139 million kilometres. The figures only include shared micro-mobility, which are subject to strict rules including speed caps and geofencing, unlike privately owned micro mobility devices. The data has been aggregated based on incident reports by Bird, Bolt, Dott, Lime, TIER and Voi, and follows the same methodology as for the years 2021 and 2022, and covers the EU27, Israel, Norway, Switzerland and the UK.
Christy Pearson, Co-Chair of Micro-Mobility for Europe:
We are glad to see that our efforts in vehicle design and education, combined with cities’ efforts to improve infrastructure translate to a significant drop in injuries related to shared micro-mobility. However, the journey is not over and we are committed to continue our work towards Vision Zero. This also requires cities’ continued efforts, in particular with regards to motor vehicles, as almost 70% of cyclist and e-scooter rider fatalities involve motor vehicles, which highlights the need for safe infrastructure for vulnerable road users as well as reducing speed limits for motorised vehicles.
