In the New Year, local jurisdictions in San Diego County will be able to ban the use of electric bicycles for youths under 12 years of age.
The law, established after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2234, creates the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Program and authorizes the county or local authorities within the county to enact prohibitions.
The legislation, by Assembly member Tasha Boerner, whose District 77 covers parts of coastal North County and the city of San Diego, is among a spate of new attempts to regulate the use of e-bikes.
“E-bikes are an amazing way for our kids to get around, but they need to be at an age where they can ride defensively and correctly navigate through large streets, intersections, cars, and pedestrians,” Boerner said in a September news release. “The data shows that kids on e-bikes under 12 have the greatest number of accidents and risk of severe injuries.”
The bicycles have exploded in popularity, but have led to a number of safety concerns. Coronado, for instance, has barred those under 12 from using e-bikes while also banning them on all city sidewalks, beaches and parks. The new rules take effect Friday.
Boerner wasn’t the only state legislator with e-bikes on her mind. Other new laws govern the speed of the bicycles and battery standards.
AB 1774, by Assembly member Mike Gipson, D-Gardena, prohibits modifying e-bikes so they can achieve much higher speeds and selling a product or device that allows for such modifications.
Other standards won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2026.
SB 1271, from state Sen. Dave Min, an Orange County Democrat recently elected to the House of Representatives, requires e-bikes, mobility devices and their components, such as batteries and charging systems, to be tested by accredited laboratories to meet safety requirements.
The bill also calls for labeling the products to show compliance and bars the distribution, sale or lease of e-bikes and related equipment unless they meet the standards,
