Resident cites surge in e-bike and e-scooter injuries, urges Bellevue to track helmet use

A Bellevue resident and physician told the City Council on March 10 that micromobility injuries have surged nationally and urged local leaders to track user safety and helmet use.

Dr. Matthew Ruhl said a 2024 study shows a sharp increase in micromobility vehicle (MMV) injuries, giving figures he attributed to a national NIH/UCFS analysis: "in 02/2017, there were 751 e-bike injuries. In 2022, there were over 23,000." Ruhl urged the council to consider how Bellevue measures helmet usage for MMVs and questioned whether the Bellevue Police Department's low citation count reflected enforcement or community norms.

Ruhl quoted Bellevue's written legal position about MMVs and helmet laws and said the city's administrative stance that it is "not responsible for educating users about how to operate a vehicle, local or county helmet laws, or other ethical regulations," is legally cautious but may reduce prevention. "Administratively, preemptively not taking responsibility is an excellent legal position. But in the thick of a known exponential increase of an injury environment for MMDs ... not taking responsibility for educating users ... may not be consistent with your vision," Ruhl said.

Ruhl urged the council and staff to measure helmet use, review enforcement data (he noted only one citation for helmet-related issues since 2019), and consider public-education measures as local MMV use grows. The comment came during oral communications; no staff presentation or formal council action on MMV regulation was taken at the meeting.

The council did not vote on MMV-related policy at the March 10 meeting; the transcript shows the items were raised as public comment for future consideration by staff and council committees.