More Children Are Being Hurt on E-Scooters in Ottawa — What Parents Need to Know
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Electric scooters may look like a convenient way for young people to get around, but Ottawa's children's hospital is reporting a notable increase in e-scooter-related injuries, as Ottawa police step up enforcement against unsafe and underage riding.
CHEO data cited in local reports show e-scooter-related emergency visits rising by about 50 per cent over a one-year period. The local trend reflects a wider Canadian concern: CIHI has reported a 22 per cent increase in hospitalizations related to e-scooter injuries nationwide.
Doctors warn that many of the injuries are more serious than cuts and bruises, including fractures, concussions, skull injuries and abdominal trauma. Speed, poor helmet use and a child's ability to control a powerful device can all increase the risk.
In Ottawa, riders must be at least 16 years old. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet, passengers are not permitted, scooters cannot be ridden on sidewalks and the legal maximum speed is 24 km/h.
Ottawa police have also been increasing attention to improper e-scooter use and reminded riders at the start of the 2026 season to follow road-safety rules.
For parents, the central message is simple: an e-scooter should be treated as a motorized form of transportation, not as a child's toy.
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Tahani Elghazaly5220 Posts
