According to CalMatters Housing, Governor Newsom recently signed three new e-bike safety laws aimed at addressing a growing number of collisions involving electric bicycles, particularly among young riders. The push for these regulations came after several fatal accidents in the Bay Area, most notably a tragic incident in Burlingame where an 11-year-old on an e-bike was hit by an SUV, which then struck a 4-year-old playing nearby. These new measures represent part of a broader legislative effort to balance the benefits of e-bikes as affordable and environmentally friendly transportation with legitimate safety concerns.
The first major piece of legislation authorizes San Mateo County to run a pilot program restricting children under 12 from riding certain lower-speed e-bikes, with parents facing potential fines for violations. This follows similar pilot programs the governor approved for San Diego and Marin counties in 2024. The reasoning behind these age restrictions comes from research showing that e-bike collisions involving young riders have surged dramatically in recent years, with a UC San Diego study documenting a massive increase in incidents among children aged 14 and younger.
A second law sets new manufacturing standards and safety requirements for e-bikes starting in 2029, requiring Class 2 e-bikes to include speedometers and mandating all e-bikes have front and rear lights. The legislation also empowers local governments to establish speed limits on bike paths and sidewalks, with a statewide default of 10 mph on sidewalks. Additionally, the law requires retailers to provide consumers with clear information about e-bike classifications, maximum speeds, and any age restrictions before purchase.
The third law cracks down on what advocates call the "e-moto problem," targeting high-powered electric motorcycles and mopeds that travel over 28 mph but are deceptively marketed as regular e-bikes. According to a San Jose State University report, these illegal e-motos are actually the primary cause of increased injuries among electric mobility riders, not legitimate e-bikes. This measure passed with strong bipartisan support and backing from major cycling and traffic safety organizations.
Despite the broad legislative support, some e-bike advocates worry these laws go too far and could discourage people from using clean transportation options. Critics question how effectively age restrictions can be enforced and express concerns that the focus on regulation diverts attention from what they see as the real solution: building safer infrastructure that accommodates all road users. They argue that thousands of Californians die annually in vehicle collisions and that many car trips could be replaced by bicycles if communities invested more in protected bike lanes and safe routes.
What I am seeing locally here in the Bay Area is a real tension between safety concerns that are absolutely legitimate and the recognition that e-bikes and bicycles generally represent genuine solutions to our transportation and environmental challenges. These new laws, particularly the crackdown on illegal e-motos being sold as regular bikes, seem targeted at real problems. But I think both buyers and sellers need to understand that the regulatory landscape around e-bikes is shifting, and anyone considering this transportation option should be prepared for evolving requirements around age, speed, and equipment standards in our region.
