958 e-bike ER visits in 2025: Riverside's Halloween weekend risk
AMR warns that the extended evening hours coincide with a sharp rise in local e-bike injuries and a stalled city ordinance.
By Allison Rojas ·
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, creating a longer period of darkness in which children, drivers, and cyclists will share Riverside streets.
American Medical Response expects the shift to extend trick-or-treating from the afternoon well into the night. Jeremey Shumaker, associate vice president of AMR's Pacific Region, stated that the extended window places more families on the road alongside a higher volume of drivers. The company reviewed its historical call data and found that traffic collisions, falls, behavioral emergencies, and suspected intoxication are the most common reasons for crews to respond during the holiday season.
The timing aligns with a recent surge in e-bike injuries across the county. Riverside University Health System reported that emergency room visits related to e-bike crashes increased from 224 in 2023 to 494 in 2024 and 958 in 2025. By July 9, 2026, officials had recorded at least 416 additional visits. County coroner records indicate that e-bikes were involved in at least one death in 2024 and two in 2025.
Young riders bear the heaviest burden of this trend. RUHS data shows that ER visits for 10 to 14-year-olds more than doubled in one year, jumping from 155 in 2024 to 339 in 2025. Visits for 15 to 24-year-olds also rose, from 122 to 248. Michael Mesisca, who chairs emergency medicine at RUHS Medical Center, noted that his team is treating blunt head trauma, rib fractures, collapsed lungs, and lacerations, particularly among this age group.
Local enforcement of e-bike safety remains in flux. The Riverside Police Department logged more than 200 e-bike-related calls and 22 crashes between January 1 and July 1 this year. A city ordinance proposed by Councilmembers Sean Mill and Chuck Conder would require helmets for minors and ban sidewalk riding. The council sent the bill back to committee on September 22 after concerns arose regarding a provision that would ban e-bikes from the Santa Ana River Trail. No date has been set for the proposal to return to a full council vote.
AMR has issued specific safety guidance for the holiday. Drivers are urged to slow down in residential areas and watch for gaps between parked cars. Pedestrians should carry flashlights and wear reflective tape on their costumes. Riders must wear certified helmets, use lights, and check brakes before departing. Families are advised to have children test their costumes and shoes before going out, and to avoid capes or accessories that drag on the ground. Adults accompanying children under 12 are encouraged to clear walkways of extension cords and decorations.
California state law currently governs e-bike safety in the absence of a local ordinance. The law requires anyone under 18 to wear a helmet on a bicycle or e-bike. It also mandates that all riders and passengers on Class 3 e-bikes wear helmets regardless of age. AMR recommends that anyone consuming alcohol arrange for a sober driver or rideshare before the party begins.
