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The morning meeting in the orthopaedics trauma ward at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel is filled with discussions about the cases that lie ahead. One of the recurring themes that the team addresses is the increasing number of injuries caused by e-bikes, affecting both riders and pedestrians. Surgeons share stories of patients like a 32-year-old student who fell off an e-bike, sustaining a fracture, and a six-year-old girl who was hit by an electric bike, resulting in a fracture of her tibia and fibula.
Frida, the six-year-old girl mentioned, was playing in the park with friends when the accident occurred. A person on an electric bike collided with her, causing her to sustain leg fractures. Transported to the Royal London Hospital, surgeons performed a procedure to help her bones heal, a process that is expected to take around a year. Frida’s father, Ed, expresses concern over the presence of “big and heavy” e-bikes sharing pathways with pedestrians, emphasizing the significant harm they can cause, especially to children.
Ed’s frustration is echoed by many others affected by similar incidents, including the surgeons at the hospital. Surgeons like Jaison Patel and Nick Aresti have witnessed an increase in severe injuries related to e-bikes, putting strain on healthcare services. While they support cycling for health benefits, they advocate for better regulation of e-bikes to prevent further injuries. They believe that addressing the issue now is crucial to ensuring the safety of both riders and pedestrians in public spaces.
As the debate on e-bike regulation continues, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, acknowledges the need for safer practices and better oversight of rentable electric bikes. With new laws in parliament potentially granting more powers to cities for e-bike regulation, stakeholders hope to establish guidelines that prioritize safety and proper usage. The prospect of improved regulations offers a glimmer of hope for preventing future incidents and promoting responsible e-bike usage in urban environments
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