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https://www.nationalacademies.org/trb/events

Analyzing Trends in Micromobility Safety to Inform ODOT’s Safety Programming

The use of electric micromobility devices, including e-bikes, e-scooters, e-unicycles, and other emerging devices, has been steadily increasing as modes of transportation in Oregon over the past several years, generating many questions about how best to integrate these devices into the transportation system. Safety concerns, as the rate of injuries sustained while riding an electric micromobility devices that necessitated an ER visit or hospitalization has significantly increased between 2021 and 2024, rising from 414 potential injuries in 2021 to 1,229 in 2024, according to Oregon Health Authority (OHA) data. These numbers probably underrepresent total crashes. Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT’s) Transportation Safety Office (TSO) oversees safety education and training programs, including bicycle and motorcycle safety, but they currently do not have a clear picture of the crash data and magnitude of risk associated with e-micromobility devices given the relative nascency of the mode. Analyzing the available sources of data and developing a deeper understanding of the safety concerns of local agencies and community organizations are critical first steps. This research will help the agency and their transportation safety partners to be data driven in their development of e-micromobility safety materials, safety training programs, strategic project planning and funding investment decisions to reduce the crash and injury risk related to these devices. OBJECTIVES: This research will help answer the following questions: What’s the extent and magnitude of injuries? What’s the rate of injury for youth compared to adults? Through a safe system approach, what are the primary causes or factors of crashes involving people riding e-micromobility devices? What types of devices are most involved in crashes? What are the current concerns for transportation partners and law enforcement related to e-micromobility safety and how are these concerns compared to what is seeing in the data? The findings of this important research project will help ODOT identify the core strategies to better tailor ODOT safety programming and partnerships. The results will also be used to educate policymakers, interested partners, and the public. ODOT is seeking a deeper understanding of safety issues and concerns related to the emerging field of small devices that have varying amounts of assisted power beyond human propulsion, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-unicycles. While usage of these devices has emerged in the last decade—and in higher numbers in the last five years—safety research and recommendations have been slow to catch up. Analyzing the available data will help inform the development of data-driven strategies and investments within ODOT, as well as the external partners ODOT works with.