The head of trauma at St Vincent’s Hospital has highlighted the alarming rise in e-bike-related injuries, labeling the situation as an “epidemic.”
“In 2025 alone, we’ve recorded 200 injuries, marking a significant surge over the past few years,” explained Dr. Tony Grabs, the director of trauma at St Vincent’s Hospital.
This surge represents a staggering 350% increase since 2023.
“Of these cases, 10% result in patients needing intensive care, which is quite concerning,” Grabs noted.
“It’s considered an epidemic because we’re witnessing a growing number of injured individuals seeking treatment,” he added.
“Moreover, there’s a noticeable trend of these incidents occurring under the influence of alcohol at night.”
More than half of the patients treated at St Vincent’s admitted they hit speeds of more than 25km/h while riding the electronic bikes.
Maddi Carr landed in hospital in April after crashing her shared e-bike to avoid hitting a pedestrian, the handlebar hitting her neck.
“Thirty ks (30km/h) straight to the neck, it was just blunt force,” she said.
“The doctors said that if I would have gone to sleep that night and not gone to hospital, I would have probably died in my sleep.”
Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick is also seeing a rise in complex injuries, reporting nearly 100 cases in 2025, primarily among young teenage boys.
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