Electric bikes are becoming a familiar sight throughout Alameda County. Along with their growing popularity, however, Washington Health's Level II Trauma Center is seeing more serious injuries involving e-bikes and electric scooters. That's why the hospital is expanding community education to help riders stay safe before a crash happens.
According to Garrett Cordes, the best way to reduce traumatic injuries is to prevent them before they happen. Cordes, Injury Prevention coordinator ofWashington Health’s Trauma Program, said trauma care starts with prevention. That’s why WH’s Trauma Program emphasizes learning how and why trauma occurs locally. Lately, that means focusing more on the increased use of electric bikes and scooters by people of all ages, from teens to adults.
“We see trauma from a number of causes,” Cordes explained. “Falls are the No.1 reason someone comes into the WH Trauma Center. No.2 for us is motor vehicle collisions. No.3 are bikes, scooters and electric bikes, or e-bikes, basically anything that has two or three wheels and gets you around. We're seeing more trauma injuries involving e-bikes and e-scooters.
“The use of e-bikes is growing rapidly in Alameda County, driven by local rebate programs, environmental goals and statewide surges in popularity,” Cordes continued, explaining the trauma center’s expanded focus. “However, this boom has also brought rising safety concerns regarding high-speed modified bikes and young riders.”
Micromobility is the new term for transportation over short distances using lightweight, single-person vehicles like e-bikes and e-scooters. Washington’s Trauma Center works cooperatively with the City of Fremont, its police department and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department to offer micromobility safety training for e-bike users.
“The City of Fremont promotes electric micromobility as a low-carbon alternative to reduce short car trips,” Cordes said. “That dovetails perfectly with Washington Health Trauma Center’s community focus on efforts to prevent traumatic injuries. With e-bikes, that begins with helmets that fit correctly, riding with careful intention and watching bike speeds.”
Micromobility
E-bikes are classified into one of three tiers, based on top speed, maximum motor range and whether they feature a throttle or require pedaling. Class 1 and Class 2 have a maximum top speed of 20 mph, while Class 3 can reach 28 mph. The tiers determine whether you can ride on public streets or bike paths.
Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted and have no throttle, meaning the motor only runs while the bike is being pedaled. Class 1 bikes are allowed on bike paths, multiuse trails and all public roadways where bicycles are permitted. Class 2 bikes are both pedal-assisted and have a hand throttle that can move the bike without any pedaling. They are generally allowed to operate where Class 1 bikes can go. Class 3 e-bikes are pedal-assisted only, but the motor can go up to 28 mph. These bikes require a speedometer and are allowed to operate on regular roads and street bike lanes, but are banned from multiuse pedestrian paths. Class 3 e-bike users must be at least age 16.
“A 2026 study tracking California data showed statewide e-bike collisions jumped from just 2 in 2018 to 1,506 by 2024, with a high proportion of incidents involving children aged 14 and younger,” Cordes said. “The WH Trauma Program works with the Fremont Police Department to offer community education on e-bikes, including fitting helmets. California requires all e-bike riders under 18 to wear helmets, and operators and passengers on Class 3 e-bikes are required to wear helmets regardless of age.”
Cordes said the trauma center promotes the use of full-face helmets for maximum safety.
“Imagine a fall off an e-bike going 28 miles per hour,” he said. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but if you fall off wearing a typical bike helmet, your face is completely unprotected. We’ve been seeing facial fractures from these kinds of accidents and have come together with other trauma centers to recommend full-face, motorcycle-style helmets.”
Teaching Safety
Together with the Fremont Rotary, the trauma center has designed an e-bike safety coloring book for younger riders. This includes stickers that can be applied to helmets to personalize safety gear and make using them more fun. Cordes and other trauma center staff attend community events, sharing safety tips and ensuring each rider's helmet fits properly.
The trauma center will host its own safety training event, The Road to Wellness Health Fair, on Aug. 22, in the Washington West parking lot. In addition to celebrating the trauma center’s second anniversary, the free event offers a fun-filled day of health and safety education, family activities, live entertainment, and free health screenings designed for all ages.
“Support for injury prevention is bigger than just our trauma center throughout the community,” Cordes said. “It's woven into the Tri-City Area. We lean into these connections that we have, and then use that layered approach to bring as much education to the public as we can, because the first job in trauma is to start that education and treatment before the injury occurs. The best way to treat trauma is to prevent it.”
For more information about Washington Health’s Trauma Center, go to washingtonhealth.com/trauma. For more information about the upcoming Road to Wellness Health Fair, go to washingtonhealth.com/events.