Cal Cities launches e-bike toolkit to help cities craft ordinances

By Damon Conklin, legislative advocate (infrastructure)

Cal Cities is actively ensuring cities can shape the next phase of e-bike policy through a variety of new resources, including a toolkit featuring studies, safety reports, and sample ordinances.

In recent years, cities have experienced a rapid increase in e-bike use - and related injuries. While e-bikes offer important transportation and climate benefits, they can also create serious safety concerns, especially when younger riders operate high-powered e-bikes without following basic rules of the road.

Local governments are on the front lines of this challenge, responding to complaints about speeding e-bikes on sidewalks, near schools, and on multi-use paths. Many trauma centers are treating double the number of injuries to e-bike riders, as well as the pedestrians they hit.

Unfortunately, state law has not kept pace with advances in e-bike technology, evolving marketing practices, or changing patterns of use: Lawmakers have just now begun to treat the issue seriously. SB 381 (Min, 2023) strengthened enforcement related to tampered e-bikes, while AB 2234 (Boerner, 2024) expanded local authority to regulate e-bike use in specific contexts, including pilot programs and public spaces.

While these measures were important steps, they represent only the beginning of what is needed. Future legislation could include new and separate e-bike classifications to improve data collection and help law enforcement track incidents. Officers also need clearer, visible ways to identify e-bike classes and speed capabilities.

In addition, the state could address manufacturer practices by strengthening requirements to prevent the marketing and sale of illegal or modified e-bikes, particularly those targeted at younger people. Expanded safety standards and rider education - supported by state resources - are also essential to helping users understand speed limits, helmet requirements, and where they may operate e-bikes.

Other recent efforts by Cal Cities to provide support to cities include a statewide survey, a call for legislative informational hearings, a virtual roundtable, and a policy task force developing model language.

Cal Cities anticipates that lawmakers will introduce several e-bike bills this year, and, now armed with feedback from members, can engage them to ensure cities have the tools they need to keep their communities safe.