Despite being convenient, electric scooters reduce daily physical activity by replacing walking and cycling.
Electric scooters have become a common sight in our cities. They are often presented as an emblem of modern micromobility, a solution that promises relieve congestionreduce travel time and reduce emissions. However, behind their promise and modernity, a danger lurks: these vehicles pose a threat to the health and safety of young people.
The World Health Organization has identified physical inactivity as a “silent threat to global health“. Active mobility – walking or cycling – is the most effective way to combat this problem, as it integrates physical exercise into everyday life, especially during regular trips, such as going to and from school.
Taking this concern into account, several recent studies have analyzed assisted mobility and questioned whether these vehicles rob young people of opportunities to practice physical activity. A study shows that using an electric bicycle consumes less energy than walking. This is logical: electric bicycles are not an active means of transport, but rather passive and assisted. When replacing walking or cycling, reduce daily physical activity levelsas another study pointed out. Furthermore, as they take you directly to your destination, they make hybrid mobility with public transport less attractive.
If a young person replaces a 15-minute walk with a 5-minute ride on an electric scooter, they lose a crucial part of their daily physical activity and interaction with their surroundings. Multiply this by millions of young people and the impact on public health is devastating, as it increases the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases.
We also cannot ignore the negative effects of using electric scooters on psychosocial health. These vehicles can, for example, transform the social experience of going to school – they reduce the opportunities for social interaction offered by active transport, resulting in fewer conversations and shared experiences.
Risk of serious injury
In addition to social and health risks, the increase in assisted micromobility has caused a worrying increase in the number of accidents. The data is clear: figures from the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic show that 459 people were hospitalized in Spain in 2024 due to accidents involving personal mobility vehicles (mainly electric scooters) – 34% more than in 2023. The number of deaths almost doubled in that period, going from 10 to 19.
Data from other European countries confirm this trend. In Germany, for example, deaths increased by 27%. Half of those injured were under 25 years old.
Other studies have revealed that, among young people, electric scooters cause more accidents than bicycles, causing injuries such as complex fractures, traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. The speeds they can reach, the instability of its small wheels and the lack of specialized infrastructure combine to make the use of these vehicles risky.
There are several other elements in this dangerous cocktail. These factors include a false sense of security, low helmet usethe lack of road safety education and the inexperience of young people in maneuvering at high speeds in congested urban environments.
Bicycles: the true future of transport
The solution is not to ban scooters, but to promote healthy and sustainable alternatives. Bicycles, not necessarily electric, are the key to mobility on short and medium distance urban routes.
As bicycles offer a triple advantage that electric scooters can’t match:
- Health: We expend energy when cycling, which contributes to daily physical activity and improves psychological and social results.
- Sustainability: Bicycles do not generate emissions, which makes them indispensable in the fight against climate change.
- Safety: Although bicycles are not risk-free, their design, stability and existing cycling infrastructure improve both perceived and actual safety.
It is essential that urban planning policies, educators and families prioritize creating safe and attractive environments for young people to walk and cycle.
To improve public health and the health of the planet, we need to invest in:
- Safe and segregated cycle paths
- Pedestrian areas and traffic calming measures
- Measures that allow bicycles share road space with motor vehicles
- Active education programs on road safety, inside and outside the school environment
- Campaigns that highlight the physical and mental benefits of cycling.
The electric scooter is great for getting around, but not for your health. We must ensure that the next generation does not sacrifice physical activity for convenience. Healthier youth and a greener planet are within our reach, but only if we encourage young people to be more active.
