As a parent of three kids in school, my ears always perk up when local health reports touch on the safety and well-being of children in our region.

A recent warning from the Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) highlights a sharp rise in e-scooter-related injuries. According to their data, the hospital treated 58 children for e-scooter injuries between April and June of this year, compared to 22 during the same period last year. That is a 164 percent increase.

Emergency physicians are noting that many of these incidents involve young riders, lack of helmets, or short, routine trips close to home where people tend to let their guard down. While e-scooters are a popular and convenient way to get around, medical professionals are stressing an important reminder: they are motorized vehicles capable of causing severe injuries, not just toys.

The Legal Framework and What Strathroy-Caradoc is Doing

From a regulatory standpoint, e-scooters operate under an active provincial pilot framework (Ontario Regulation 389/19) that gives municipalities the discretion to permit and govern them. Strathroy-Caradoc has established a local regulatory approach aligned with this framework.

Under local rules and the provincial pilot:

  • Where they are allowed: E-scooters must be operated in designated bike lanes or, where bike lanes do not exist, as close as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway or shoulder on streets with speed limits of 50 km/h or less.
  • Prohibited spaces: They are strictly banned from sidewalks, hiking trails, environmentally significant areas (ESAs), and natural park areas.
  • Commercial rentals: Commercial fee-per-use or share programs are prohibited in the municipality.
  • Age and safety limits: Riders must be at least 16 years old, stand at all times while operating, and anyone under 18 must wear a helmet.

What We Could Be Doing More

While having a by-law on paper is a necessary first step, regulations alone will not keep our children safe if enforcement and education lag behind. To truly address this surge in injuries, Strathroy-Caradoc can step up in a few key areas:

  • Targeted School and Community Outreach: Partnering directly with local school boards to educate kids, teens, and parents on the rules of the road before peak riding seasons hit. Many families are simply unaware of the 16-year-old age restriction or helmet requirements.
  • Proactive Infrastructure Integration: As our community grows and we implement complete street designs, like upcoming projects on Head Street North and Thorne Drive, we need to actively prioritize separated cycling and micromobility infrastructure so riders are not forced onto fast or narrow road shoulders.
  • Clearer Enforcement and Parent Accountability: Strengthening enforcement around sidewalk riding in high-pedestrian zones and reinforcing accountability so that safety rules are consistently upheld across all neighborhoods.

As our communities continue to grow and modernize, infrastructure, safety, and education have to go hand in hand. Ensuring our neighborhoods are safe places to raise a family has to remain a top priority.

It is worth taking a moment to talk with our kids about road safety, ensuring proper helmet use, and sticking to local rules. You can read the full warning and safety breakdown on LHSC's news page.

Let’s keep looking out for one another in our neighborhoods.