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B.C. school districts crack down on e-scooters, e-bikes as emergency room visits grow
Districts cite a rise in child injuries and 81 emergency visits at BC Children’s Hospital, with some students sent home for arriving on scooters.
The Langley School District and Nanaimo-Ladysmith district have banned e-scooters and e-bikes from school properties ahead of the new school year, citing a spike in injuries among underage riders.
Dr. Genevieve Ernst, trauma medical director at BC Children's Hospital, reported a steep rise in emergency visits and devastating brain injuries from e-scooter crashes among child patients.
Data shows 81 emergency department visits to BC Children Hospital between April 2025 and 2026, more than double the prior year, with most injuries from falls and over half involving unhelmeted riders.
Gillian Robinson, communications director for Nanaimo-Ladysmith, confirmed enforcement: "we will call parents to come and pick up the e-bike or e-scooter" if students arrive with devices.
Regulatory ambiguity persists: some communities allow devices under a provincial pilot project while cities like Surrey have banned them from public and school properties.