WAUNAKEE, Wis. — A sharp increase in serious injuries among young e-bike and e-scooter riders is prompting renewed safety warnings from local doctors and tighter enforcement of riding rules in Waunakee. The emergency department at American Family Children’s Hospital treated 123 children after e-bike or e-scooter crashes between April and August this year, according to Dr. Nicholas Kuehnel, a UW Health pediatric emergency medicine physician. During the same five-month period last year, 27 children were treated — an increase of about 356%. Kuehnel said the injuries have included concussions, fractures, head trauma and bleeding in the brain. The rise comes as more children use electric bikes and scooters, which can travel considerably faster than traditional bicycles and kick scooters. John Marlow, owner of Wana Bike, said some electric scooters can reach speeds ranging from about 20 mph to 55 mph, depending on the model. That speed can leave young riders with less time to react to traffic, pedestrians and other obstacles. “It’s not a kick scooter anymore. It’s an e-scooter,” Marlow said. Doctors recommend that parents make sure children understand traffic rules and wear a helmet on every ride. Safety advocates and local officials also say children should be taught how to control the vehicle before using it in areas with cars or heavy foot traffic. Waunakee is reinforcing those precautions through an ordinance that requires riders under 18 to wear helmets. The rules also prohibit riding on sidewalks along Main Street and allow officers to issue tickets to riders older than 12. Lt. Matt Plendl of the Waunakee Police Department said the ordinance addresses rules that had previously been unclear to some riders. But he said tickets alone will not resolve the safety concerns. “We want to raise awareness,” Plendl said. Marlow said education needs to reach children and families before they begin riding. As electric micromobility becomes more common in communities, the local injury numbers underscore the need for clear rules, protective equipment and infrastructure that keeps young riders separated from fast-moving vehicles where possible.