Health experts urge parents not to buy e-scooters for kids for Christmas

As Calgarians do their last-minute Christmas shopping, health experts are urging parents not to buy electric scooters for their children.

Citing the risk of injury and little-known laws surrounding personal e-scooter use, Dr. Stephanie Vandenberg, a Calgary-based emergency department physician, said she “categorically rejects” giving e-scooters as Christmas gifts.

“I’m sorry to be Scrooge at Christmastime,” said Vandenberg, who previously worked with the city of Calgary when it launched its shared e-scooters in 2019.

He said it is especially dangerous for minors to use the devices.

“It’s a combination of gaining high speed almost immediately, not having balance or core stability, and having an underdeveloped frontal lobe where children may not be able to discern what is risky and what is not risky.”

According to data provided by Alberta Health Services, 3,660 e-scooter-related injuries were treated in Calgary-zone emergency departments and urgent care centers between January 2022 and August 2025.

The number of injuries among people 17 and younger is increasing – increasing by about 68 percent from 2022 to 2025.

e-scooter law

At the University of Alberta’s Injury Prevention Centre, director Kathy Belton said part of the problem may be that many people don’t know the laws surrounding riding e-scooters.

“Personal e-scooters are not allowed on public roads, and this includes sidewalks, ditches next to public roads and places where the public is allowed to park or travel in a motor vehicle,” Belton said.

It is Alberta’s Traffic Safety Act that technically makes it illegal to use a personal e-scooter on public property.

However, according to the City of Calgary website, there is one exception. As part of a pilot project with the province, personal e-scooters can be used on Calgary’s bike lanes as long as their speed is less than 20 km/h.

Alberta’s transportation and economic corridors minister said changes could be coming to personal e-scooter rules.

“The Government of Alberta is currently reviewing the Traffic Safety Act, and part of that review includes looking at how to better define and regulate emerging transportation options like e-scooters,” Devin Dreeshen said in a statement.

When it comes to rental e-scooters, such as those offered by Bird and Neuron in Calgary, there are age restrictions. Anyone who uses them must be 18 years of age or older.

There are no age restrictions for personal e-scooters, but Belton said anyone under the age of 16 should not use them.

Belton said she wants the province to create safety measures for e-scooters as well.

“Until they do, this is what we’ll assume: wear a helmet, don’t try these things when you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs, make sure you’re in a safe place and away from traffic, ride alone, know where to ride.”

Follow the rules: Shop owner

Suleh Nauman, owner of Voltz eBikes in Calgary, said the benefits of using e-scooters can outweigh the risks, as long as users are safe.

He said that he believes that youth should not use them at all, simply because they can be dangerous. Instead, Nauman said they can be used as a way to teach children to follow the rules.

He said, “If you go fast in a car, you can get into an accident. If you don’t wear a seat belt, you can get injured. But we don’t just ban cars. We just ask people to follow the rules and we have to enforce the rules.”

Naumann said he stresses to all of his customers that they must follow the laws of their municipality. And if they’re younger, he encourages them to use a helmet.

He urges anyone buying a personal e-scooter to make sure it’s certified – even if it costs a little more.