According to reporting from CalMatters Housing, Governor Newsom recently signed three new laws aimed at improving safety around the growing number of e-bikes on California roads and sidewalks. These measures address different aspects of e-bike use: one establishes speed limits for riding on sidewalks, another targets electric motorcycles that are being misleadingly sold as e-bikes despite being much faster and more powerful, and a third opens the door for San Mateo County to test a program restricting children under twelve from riding certain lower-speed e-bikes.
The San Mateo pilot program would mean that parents or guardians could face a fine if their young children ride these particular e-bikes. Currently, California has no age requirement for most e-bikes, though the fastest category does require riders to be at least sixteen. The governor previously signed similar legislation allowing pilot programs in San Diego and Marin counties.
Supporters of the age restriction argue that children lack the judgment and situational awareness needed to safely operate e-bikes. However, e-bike advocates and safety groups have pushed back against this approach. Organizations like Streets for All contend that the pilot could unfairly target and overly police e-bike riders, and they point out that results from San Diego's existing program have not yet been reported to lawmakers, making it premature to expand such restrictions.
Critics also note that automobiles remain the primary danger on roadways, and they suggest that rather than regulating e-bikes, California should focus on designing streets that safely accommodate all types of transportation users. The debate reflects broader tensions about how to balance safety concerns with equitable access to different modes of transportation across the state.
What I am seeing locally in the Bay Area is that e-bikes are becoming more common, and it's natural that policy makers want to address safety. But I think the critics have a real point here. We need to think carefully about whether we're solving the actual problem or just creating headaches for people trying to use an affordable, clean transportation option. In Fremont and across the East Bay, I'd rather see us invest in better infrastructure that works for everyone, than spend resources policing kids on bikes.
