The growing use of bicycles and electric scooters in South Florida has generated an alarming increase in accidents, many of them serious and involving children and adolescents. Hospitals in the region are on maximum alert against this trend, while Miami-Dade cities rush to tighten rules for these vehicles' circulation.
Memorial Healthcare System, in Broward, recorded a 178% increase in serious visits related to e-bikes and scooters between 2024 and 2025. At Nicklaus Children's Hospital, a pediatric reference in the region, serious cases jumped from just six in 2021 to 37 in 2025, an increase of approximately 517%, and as of May 2026 already totaled 46 new occurrences. Among the most frequent injuries are head and facial trauma, fractures, and damage to internal organs, with 82% of patients treated not wearing helmets and 44% of 2025 cases involving minors under 18, with children aged 12 to 15 representing the largest pediatric group.
The death of a teenager in an electric scooter accident in Orange County reignited the safety debate. The case led families and advocates to call for stricter rules. In response, different cities implemented their own restrictions: Sunny Isles Beach banned minors under 16 from riding e-bikes and required photo ID, Pinecrest requires a free safety course with a responsible adult, and Miami Beach banned these vehicles on sidewalks and high-traffic pedestrian areas.
Florida state legislation treats e-bikes as conventional bicycles, exempting them from driver's licenses and registration, but allows each municipality to define additional restrictions. This results in rules that vary significantly from one city to another, meaning a practice allowed in one location can result in a fine just a few kilometers away. Experts recommend wearing helmets on all trips, knowing the local rules, avoiding distractions, respecting speed limits, and closely supervising children and adolescents using these vehicles.
