Death, comas, paralysis for life! If only I had worn my helmet! 

NYC  has had a devastating number of horrific accidents on E-Scooter riders and even deaths. E-Scooter riders have dramatically increased and taken over the city streets since the beginning of the pandemic. Many are riding without protective headgear. These life-threatening accidents could all be prevented by doing one simple thing: By wearing a high quality e-scooter safety approved helmet. This simple step can decide your life or death. 

Last fall, a Bronx man died after losing control of his electric scooter and slamming his head on the ground.  According to the NY Post, “Marvin Campbell, 45, was riding a Cycleboard Rover Scooter on Bronx Park East near Waring Avenue in Allerton on the evening of Oct. 27 when he fell off, according to police. He was not wearing a helmet.” The Cycleboard Rover goes 27 miles per hour at top speed. Just imagine the crack of your skull hitting the ground at that speed. Campbell would be alive today if he was wearing a helmet. 

According to the NY Times, “the influx of electric bikes and scooters has also brought more conflict to the streets at a time when traffic deaths have risen to the highest level in nearly a decade because of more cars, more speeding and reckless driving.” Total rides surged 130 percent to 88.5 million in 2019 from 38.5 million the year before. At least 17 people have been killed while riding E-Scooters in 2020, according to city officials. 

Ane Mori of Bed-Stuy Brooklyn has seen a big increase in electric scooters in her neighborhood. “There have been a crazy amount of electric scooters and electric bikes that are definitely illegal flying up and down our block, especially in the summertime. It’s gotten so bad that I even reported to the DOE to put a speed bump on our block. Especially the amount of kids on our block. I notice that a lot of the riders are pretty reckless and don’t wear helmets. They go super duper fast and even go on a one way street and the opposite way up the street against traffic which is really dangerous. I actually witnessed an electric scooter accident last summer. When a rider was going really fast down the street the wrong way and a car that was turning the corner and rammed into him. He was laying in the middle of the street out cold, no helmet and the driver was a mess and it wasn’t her fault. We all stayed till the ambulance came, and it was really sad and I don’t know if he made it or not. We have to get a speed bump and need to have strong law enforcement for e-scooters to wear helmets.” This is an issue that the city has said it’s aware of and is working on. 

Because of the accidents and citizens speaking up to the city there is a start of an effort to make changes. “I know there is a concern and a perception about the safety of new forms of e-mobility devices,” said Hank Gutman, the city transportation commissioner. “That is an issue we are looking at.” Hopefully the commissioner will work fast on this change before more accidents happen. 

Helmets are not required for e-scooter riders 18 and older, but are “highly recommended,” according to the city’s Department of Transportation. This needs to change.

Milo Grim of Brooklyn, New York, said, “When my friend gave me this cool electric scooter the first thing I did right away was ride it. I didn’t think about the equipment or wearing a helmet I just hopped on and went. When I was riding I noticed the scooter was already used and the brakes were old and so as I went down a hill I went really fast and couldn’t slow down hitting a top speed of 25mph. Since the road was long I had time to slow down. I came to a stop and I got off and my legs and feet were so numb because I was bracing for a fall. I should’ve worn my helmet because if I fell off I could have died at that speed. I was hella scared and won’t do this again without a helmet. Now I know the truth about speed and what it really means when I wear a helmet.”

Other New Yorkers have experienced the same feeling. Mike Mori of Brooklyn, New York said, “One time I borrowed my friend’s e-scooter . It was a new HiboyS2pro electric scooter which can go really fast, especially on the start. I was testing it out in an open parking lot. Thought it would be fun to go really fast and I hit the brakes and almost flew over the handlebars. I didn’t have a helmet and ended up with a really big bruise on my ribs from the handle bars. The point being is that I would never ride an electric scooter without a helmet and not just those plastic bike helmets but the real deal. It was very traumatic because it really shook me up.”

Now, let’s talk about helmet safety. They reduce the risk of head, brain, and facial injury among crashes of all ages and crash severities. According to a US study, helmets cut the risks of severe traumatic brain injury by half, when riders suffer a brain injury. The report, in the American Journal of Surgery, also concluded that riders with helmets were 44% less likely to die from their injury, and 31% less likely to break facial bones.  A great type of helmet that I highly recommend is a competitive dirt bike one as not all helmets are created equal. You need to wear a specific E-Scooter Helmet for required speeds above 20mph, or higher risk conditions. A helmet meeting the Dutch NTA-8776 E-bike standard. This will give you maximum protection. 

As a high Risk Rider myself, I recommend a Bell Sanction Adult Full Face Bike Helmet. The Bell Sanction helmet offers maximum protection and is used in professional BMX Sports racing. Its lightweight yet offers comfort and protection. It has a chin guard and removable visor. Air vents keep my head cool when riding in warm weather. The helmet comes at a good price, cool designs, and good quality. 

 If you are a fast E-Scooter rider in the City and are on busy streets, you are increasing the risk of injury. Until officials establish a specific E-Scooter Helmet safety rule, the responsibility falls on you. Don’t be a dummy and wear a helmet. Ride Safe and Peace Out.