California's Three New E-Bike Laws: An Under-12 Pilot for San Mateo County, a 10 MPH Sidewalk Limit and a Crackdown on Fake E-Bikes

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed three electric bicycle bills on Sept. 30, and one of them was written specifically for San Mateo County after deadly crashes there.

An age limit pilot in San Mateo County

Assembly Bill 2595, by Assemblymember Diane Papan of San Mateo, lets cities in San Mateo County, and the county in unincorporated areas, pass an ordinance barring anyone under 12 from riding a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike. According to the bill text, local governments must run a public information campaign for at least 30 days first. Violations draw a warning for the first 60 days, then a $25 fine, and parents or guardians are jointly liable. The pilot runs until Jan. 1, 2031.

Papan proposed it after two young children in the county died in collisions involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles, CalMatters reported. Similar pilots already exist in Marin and San Diego counties. Streets for All, a transportation advocacy group, opposed the bill as premature because San Diego's pilot data has not yet been reported to the Legislature.

Sidewalk and trail speed limits

AB 2346, by Assemblymembers Lori Wilson and Marc Berman, sets a default statewide limit of 10 mph for e-bikes on sidewalks starting Jan. 1, 2027, and lets local governments post limits of 10 to 20 mph on bike paths and multiuse trails. Starting Jan. 1, 2029, new Class 2 e-bikes must have a speedometer, all e-bikes must have front and rear lights, and retailers must tell buyers each bike's class, top speed and any age restrictions.

E-motos can no longer pose as e-bikes

Senate Bill 1167, by Sen. Catherine Blakespear, takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. It does not change California's legal definition of an e-bike, which caps motors at 750 watts, but it requires sellers to clearly label devices that fall outside that definition and adds labeling, battery safety and crash-data rules, Streetsblog California reported. The bill passed the Assembly 77-0 and was backed by groups including the California Bicycle Coalition.

Supporters say the laws target the most dangerous devices. Some e-bike advocates worry they could lead to overpolicing and argue that safer streets would do more to reduce crashes.