E-Bikes And E-Scooters Become Significantly Safer Across Europe, New Data Shows
European streets are becoming safer for everyone. A new report reveals that injury rates for e-bikes and e-scooters are dropping fast.
This encouraging trend comes even as the popularity of these small vehicles has soared since 2021.
For years, critics claimed that the rise of shared bikes and electric scooters made city roads more dangerous. However, fresh data completely debunks that myth. The numbers show that micromobility is actually becoming safer as more people use it.
Rising Usage And Falling Injury Rates
Between 2024 and 2025, total mileage for shared bikes and electric scooters grew by 14 percent. At the same time, the overall risk of injury dropped by slightly more than 1 percent.
The safety gains for e-bikes are especially striking. E-bike trips increased by a massive 72 percent during that same period. Yet, injuries per million trips fell by about 18 percent compared to 2024.
This data comes from an analysis by Micro-Mobility for Europe. This industry group represents the European branches of major rental companies, including Bolt, Dott, Lime, and Voi.
The 2025 report is built on a massive amount of real-world information. It reviews more than 353 million shared e-scooter trips and 136 million shared e-bike rides. The study covers all 27 member states of the European Union, alongside Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
The Mission Behind the Coalition
The major rental companies created Micro-Mobility for Europe to challenge negative perceptions. Many local critics viewed electric scooters and bikes as a public safety hazard.
The coalition aims to prove otherwise. Its core mission is to build a cooperative framework.
This framework helps micro-mobility thrive in busy cities while respecting pedestrians and drivers alike.
Ultimately, the group wants to revolutionize urban travel by moving toward a shared, electric, and carbon-free future.
Experts are taking note of these positive developments. George Yannis is a professor at the National Technical University of Athens.
His university is partnering with the coalition to study safety outcomes.
“This indicates that with technological advancements, responsible operation, and better urban infrastructure, safety can be boosted even as the micromobility network expands,” Professor Yannis said.
He also stressed the need for future action. Continued data collection, smart policies from local officials, and responsible corporate practices will keep the trend moving forward.
These steps will help Europe reach its ambitious Vision Zero goal of eliminating road fatalities entirely.
Long-Term Safety Improvements
When looking at the bigger picture, the downward trend in injuries becomes even clearer.
Between 2021 and 2025, the injury risk per million kilometers for shared e-scooters dropped by roughly 20 percent.
Meanwhile, overall bike injuries per million kilometers fell by nearly 6 percent between 2024 and 2025. This proves that the entire sector is maturing and getting safer as it scales up to meet public demand.
Why Are Streets Getting Safer?
The short report credits several key factors for this reduction in risk. Chief among them are major upgrades to vehicle technology and stricter safety controls.
Rental companies now use automated speed caps to keep riders from going too fast. They also utilize geofencing technology to slow down or disable vehicles automatically in crowded pedestrian zones.
Regular professional maintenance ensures that brakes and tires on bikes and electric scooters stay in top condition.
Marc Naether serves as the Co-Chair of Micro-Mobility for Europe and heads public policy at Bolt. He believes the industry's hard work is finally paying off.
“A 24-percent reduction in the risk of shared e-scooter injuries per million trips since 2021 shows that safer vehicle technology, rider education, sensibilisation measures by operators and continued investments in infrastructure are delivering measurable results,” Naether noted.
As cities continue to invest in protected bike lanes and better pavement, urban commuters can look forward to an even safer, greener future on two wheels.
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