E-bike regulation urged as severe injuries flood London hospitals

CarsHealth & Fitness
12 Sep 2025 • 6:42 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Surgeons at the Royal London Hospital have warned that e-bike injuries are placing a "massive burden" on hospitals, with patients sustaining severe trauma.
  • The hospital's orthopaedics trauma ward recorded 150 e-bike related cases in the last six months, including a six-year-old girl who suffered multiple fractures.
  • Medical staff note that injuries from e-bikes are often more severe than those from traditional bicycles due to the higher speeds involved and the greater weight of the electric models.
  • Both surgeons and London's walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, are advocating for improved e-bike regulation, with potential new powers for cities outlined in the English Devolution Bill.
  • Conversely, Duncan Dollimore from Cycling UK argues against stricter regulation, emphasising that the health benefits of cycling, including on e-bikes, far outweigh the associated risks.

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