In Germany there are more than 70 million bicycles. Because of technical progress, over 200,000 electro-assisted bikes were sold in Germany in 2010 alone. In 2013, the number increased to 410,000. Currently more than 1.6 million electric bicycles are used here. One of the largest user groups are seniors. Accident researchers fear an increased risk of accidents/injuries. For one year, all cycling accidents involving electric bicycles and senior citizens were collected and analysed in 23 hospitals of the TraumaNetwork NorthWest and by the local police authorities. A comparison of the senior and younger electro-assisted cyclists showed a higher risk of injury for seniors in the initial analysis. A further comparative analysis of severely injured seniors who were riding an electro-assisted bike with those who used a conventional bicycle contradicted this. There was no statistical significance. The risk of an accident increased with age, but not with bicycle type. The study concludes that to reduce accidents, driving training and medical precautionary examinations could be used to detect losses of performance, cognitive processing and balance. In the future, they should become an integral part of the health care system and the services of practicing physicians. (Author/publisher)
Abstract