August 6, 2026
ESD 11 EMS Back-to-School e-Bike Safety Campaign Covered by FOX and Telemundo As They Spotlight Growing Safety Concerns as Families Prepare for the New School Year
SPRING, Texas (August 6, 2026) — Harris County ESD 11 EMS’s recent back-to-school e-bike safety campaign received widespread television coverage this week, with Houston’s FOX affiliate and Telemundo featuring the agency’s warning about the dramatic increase in e-bike and e-scooter injuries among children and teenagers.
The news stories highlighted the alarming rise in injuries across Harris County and reinforced ESD 11 EMS’s message that parents should understand the risks associated with motorized motorcycles, bikes and scooters before purchasing them for students traveling to and from school.
“The overwhelming media response demonstrates that this is a community safety issue affecting families throughout our region,” said Dr. Jay Kovar, Medical Director for ESD 11 EMS. “Our goal is not to discourage the use of e-bikes, but to ensure parents have the information they need to make safe decisions and help prevent serious injuries.”
Dr. Kovar was joined by Nancy De La Fuente from Harris County Public Health who provided the alarming statistics
The television reports showed a sharp increase in reported e-bike, e-scooter, and e-motorcycle injuries in Harris County, with emergency physicians noting that many of the most severe injuries involve riders who were not wearing helmets.
ESD 11 EMS partnered with Wayne Arrington, owner of Arride Bikes in The Woodlands and Tomball, to educate parents about selecting age-appropriate e-bikes, choosing properly fitted helmets, understanding local traffic laws, and teaching safe riding habits before students begin commuting to school.
“We appreciate our local media partners for helping amplify this important public safety message,” said Dr. Kovar. “By reaching families before the school year begins, we hope to reduce preventable injuries and encourage responsible riding throughout our community.”As students return to classrooms, ESD 11 EMS continues to encourage parents to:
- Choose age-appropriate electric bikes and scooters.
- Require riders to wear properly fitted helmets every trip.
- Teach students the rules of the road before allowing them to ride on public streets.
- Understand the speed and capabilities of any motorized vehicle before purchase.
- Supervise new riders until they demonstrate safe operating skills.
ESD 11 EMS remains committed to educating the community through injury prevention initiatives and partnerships with local schools, retailers, healthcare providers, and media organizations.
About ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare
ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare covers a 177 square mile area of northern Harris County with over 700,000 residents, the largest Emergency Service District in the state of Texas. ESD 11 Mobile Healthcare receives over 65,000 calls a year and consistently ranks among the best EMS services in the country for speed of response, patient satisfaction and quality of care. The Harris County Emergency Services District 11 Communication Center, known as Control, is recognized as an ACE Accredited Center of Excellence by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. This prestigious designation highlights our commitment to excellence in emergency dispatch services. As an ACE-accredited agency, we enjoy increased visibility in community service, enhanced support in litigation and liability management, and improved recruitment and retention, affirming the value and impact of our team’s work.
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Contact: Miranda Sevcik, Public Information Officer 346-226-8808
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