This morning, we convene for our regular meeting on the orthopaedics trauma ward located on the 10th floor of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel.

As usual, the team gathers to discuss the cases they will encounter throughout the day, and a recurring topic emerges.

Across the room, one surgeon recounts his patient’s story: “A 32-year-old student in good health… just a few days ago, he fell off an e-bike and incurred a closed left tibial plateau fracture.”

Shortly after, another voice nearby adds to the discussion: “A six-year-old girl was struck by an electric bike and has a closed tib/fib fracture.”

That young girl is Frida.

While playing with her friends in a park over the weekend, she was hit by someone riding an electric bike.

The bike fell on her, causing fractures to her tibia and fibula—bones in her lower leg.

She was swiftly taken to the Royal London, where surgeons performed an operation, inserting pins to aid her recovery.

However, the healing process is expected to last about a year.

At her hospital bedside, her father Ed watches over her as she sleeps.

He shares that they were preparing to go to Millfields Park on Saturday to meet their friends for a picnic, and Frida had gone ahead with them.

Then came the phone call informing them about the accident.

“It appears he was going too fast and couldn’t stop in time. The bike crashed into her,” Ed recounts.

“They’re incredibly heavy; he fell onto her, and his bike landed on her.”

“It’s unbelievable that they’re allowed to ride through public parks like this,” Ed expresses.

“I understand the rationale behind shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists, but for children to share space with e-bikes—given their size and weight—can lead to serious harm.”

Ed mentioned that the cyclist “lacked documentation” and was in the UK on a tourist visa, without a local address or contact number.

He argues that if e-bikes were categorized as motorized vehicles, the cyclist would not have been permitted to operate one.

“It’s simply unacceptable that these accidents are increasing,” he states.

Ed explained that his family and friends plan to advocate for stricter regulations on electric bikes, mentioning they have already reached out to the mayor and their local MP.

“We’re resolute in pursuing change,” he asserts.

Frida is one of 150 similar cases treated at the Royal London unit in the last six months.

Surgeon Jaison Patel reports a rising number of such incidents.

“It’s a significant strain on our department, and I believe the trend is consistent throughout London,” he says.

“Reducing the influx of patients with these types of injuries would be beneficial not only for the patients but would greatly alleviate the pressure on the NHS.”

Jaison specializes in lower limb injuries, while his colleague Nick Aresti addresses upper limb cases.

Nick, a cyclist himself, promotes cycling for health benefits but has serious concerns regarding e-bikes. He notes, “We’ve observed that the severity of injuries associated with e-bikes is notably higher, largely due to the increased speed at which riders fall off.”

He presents X-rays of a patient with a broken collarbone and explains that the injuries linked to e-bikes are much more severe, making recovery more challenging.

Both Nick and Jaison agree that the rising incidents necessitate improved regulation in the industry.

“We must take action; we can’t allow this situation to persist,” Jaison emphasizes.

In recent days, thousands of London residents have utilized e-bikes to navigate the city amid ongoing strikes, with many relying on them for transportation.

London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, suggests that enhanced regulations for rental electric bikes may be forthcoming.

“We need to ensure these vehicles are safe, that parking is well-managed, and that batteries pose no hazard,” he remarks.

“I’m pleased that the government has indicated in its English Devolution Bill that cities like London will gain additional powers, allowing us to regulate these bikes to ensure they’re safe for public use.”

The bill is currently before parliament, with no scheduled date for its passage as of yet.