California Cracks Down on E-Motos and Youth E-Bike Safety with New Legislation

October 26, 2026

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California is tightening its grip on electric bikes and similar devices. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a package of three new laws. The goal is to address growing public safety concerns and serious accidents. The rules target fast unregistered motor vehicles and give local communities more power to regulate young riders.

Cracking Down on Illegal High-Speed E-Motos

The first major law, Senate Bill 1167, targets high-speed electric devices. Many riders use these vehicles on public roads while calling them standard e-bikes.

Under the new law, any device that can travel faster than 20 mph with a throttle or 28 mph with a pedal assist will no longer qualify as an e-bike. Instead, the state vehicle code will classify these fast devices as mopeds or motor-driven cycles. Riders will need proper vehicle registration and a valid license to operate them.

The law also forces manufacturers, importers, and sellers to provide clear warnings. Consumers must know if they are buying a standard e-bike or a heavier motor vehicle that carries higher risks.

Advocates strongly supported the change. Marc Vukcevich, director of state policy for Streets for All, noted that illegal devices have ruined the reputation of safe e-bike riders.

A December 2025 report from the Mineta Transportation Institute supported this view. The study revealed that many severe crashes blamed on e-bikes actually involved illegal e-motorcycles and e-mopeds. Furthermore, poor data collection on specific bike types has long frustrated lawmakers. The new rules aim to fix this by improving crash-reporting requirements.

Balancing Climate Goals with Public Health

E-bikes have quickly become popular across California. They offer a clean way to travel through busy cities and suburbs. According to People for Bikes, e-bike sales made up 7% of the United States bike market in 2024, reaching nearly one million sales.

However, this boom has triggered a sharp rise in serious injuries. A July study from UC San Diego showed that recorded e-bike injuries in California jumped from just two in 2018 to over 1,500 in 2024. Children aged 14 and younger suffered the highest rate of moderate to severe injuries.

State lawmakers face a difficult balance. They want to encourage active transportation to reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, they must protect public safety.

Local Control and Youth Age Limits

To protect younger riders, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2595. This law allows municipalities in San Mateo County to ban children under 12 from riding Class I and Class II e-bikes. These bikes have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.

The pilot program runs until January 1, 2031. It mirrors similar rules already tested in Marin and San Diego counties. Under current state law, children under 16 are already banned from riding faster Class III e-bikes.

Local leaders have mixed views on the program. Foster City Councilmember Stacy Jimenez welcomed the tool to help kids ride more safely.

On the other hand, some officials raised concerns. Noelia Corzo, president of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, questioned how police would enforce the age limit. She worried officers would have to stop random children on the street to check their ages.

The pilot allows police to issue a 25-dollar fine to underage riders after a 60-day grace period. Because of these enforcement worries, Corzo stated she would not support the pilot in unincorporated areas of the county. She believes cities should instead invest in safer street infrastructure to prevent collisions with cars.

New Speedometers and Sidewalk Limits

The final bill, Assembly Bill 2346, introduces practical changes for daily riders. Authored by Assemblymembers Lori Wilson and Marc Berman, the law requires all Class II e-bikes sold after January 1, 2029, to have a built-in speedometer. It also establishes a strict 10 mph speed limit for anyone riding on sidewalks.

Medical professionals praised the new rules. Dr. René Bravo, president of the California Medical Association, thanked lawmakers for listening to doctors. He noted that the evidence-based measures will make roads much safer for young riders and pedestrians alike.

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