Langley and Nanaimo‑Ladysmith school districts have announced outright bans on electric scooters and e‑bikes on school property, citing a sharp rise in injuries among young riders. The move comes as BC Children’s Hospital reports a doubling of emergency‑room attendances linked to e‑scooter crashes over the past year, with many victims suffering serious head trauma.
School Districts Move to Ban E‑Scooters
Effective immediately, Langley School District will prohibit e‑scooters and e‑dirt bikes from all of its campuses. Parents received a letter this week stating that any such vehicle found on school grounds will be confiscated and the rider’s family contacted to collect it.
Similarly, the Nanaimo‑Ladysmith district has told families that elementary pupils may no longer travel to school on an e‑bike or scooter. Communications director Gillian Robinson explained that staff will call parents to retrieve the equipment if it arrives on site. Both boards say the decision follows a noticeable uptick in crashes involving children and youth who use the devices to get to and from school.
Medical Warning: Rising Injuries
Dr Genevieve Ernst, trauma medical director at BC Children’s Hospital, warned that the hospital has seen a steep increase in both emergency visits and severe brain injuries among child patients after e‑scooter accidents. Between April 2025 and April 2026, the emergency department recorded 81 e‑scooter‑related attendances – more than double the figure for the preceding twelve months.
Most incidents involved riders falling off the scooter, but Ernst stressed that e‑scooters are responsible for the most serious injuries seen in the hospital’s trauma unit. Typical wounds include fractures, road rash, abrasions and head trauma. Notably, more than half of the youngsters who sustained serious harm were not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
Ernst described the potential fallout: “Long‑term stays in hospital, the need for critical‑care surgery, and then lasting problems with development and learning.”
Legal Age Limits vs Reality
Provincial regulations stipulate that riders of light e‑bikes must be at least 14 years old, while anyone operating an e‑bike or scooter must be 16 or older. Yet data from the Canadian Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Surveillance Program reveal that the largest share of emergency visits for e‑scooter crashes came from children aged 13 and 15 – groups that fall below the legal threshold.
This mismatch between the law and actual use has prompted confusion among families, particularly in areas where pilot projects allow e‑scooters on certain roads. The Township of Langley, for example, permits the devices as part of a provincial trial, whereas neighbouring Langley City does not.
Parent Perspective and Community Concerns
Resha Sabti, a Langley mother of 12‑year‑old twins, recounted how she discovered the age restriction only after her children asked for e‑scooters as birthday gifts. She later had a narrow escape when she almost collided with two girls riding downhill in the rain, both dressed in dark clothing and without helmets.
Sabti, who is seeking a council seat in the Township of Langley, said she has raised her worries with both the township and the school board because many residents are unclear about where the rules apply. While she understands that e‑scooters can offer a useful transport option for youths who lack other means, she believes safety must come first.
“I don’t think we should wait until a child’s death,” she said, echoing the sentiment driving the new bans.
Why it Matters
The decision by Langley and Nanaimo‑Ladysmith to bar e‑scooters from school grounds reflects a growing recognition that the convenience of electric mobility cannot outweigh the risk of preventable harm to children. By aligning school policy with medical evidence and legal age limits, the districts aim to reduce injuries, encourage helmet use, and spark a broader conversation about safe active travel for young people. If other jurisdictions follow suit, the measure could help curb a troubling trend that has already placed dozens of children in hospital beds and threatened their long‑term wellbeing.