California adopts three new e-bike safety measures after fatal crashes

In response to a series of fatal e-bike collisions, Governor Gavin Newsom approved three new statutes. The first creates a San Mateo County pilot that prohibits children younger than 12 from riding certain low-speed e-bikes, with $25 fines for guardians and a reporting requirement when the program ends in 2031; comparable pilots are being launched in San Diego and Marin. The second bill, AB 2346, mandates that Class 2 e-bikes sold after 2029 include speedometers and front/rear lights, and requires retailers to disclose each bike’s class, top speed and any age limits; it also lets local governments set bike-path speed caps of 10-20 mph and sets a default 10 mph sidewalk limit.

The third measure, Senate Bill 1167, cracks down on retailers selling illegal high-speed electric mopeds masquerading as e-bikes, a practice identified as a major cause of rider injuries. While safety advocates praise the actions, e-bike supporters argue the regulations may over-police riders and that better infrastructure would be a more effective solution.