E-bike education sought by San Mateo County leaders

The topic has become contentious in recent years, with some nearby school districts, like Menlo Park, banning all throttle devices. Other local cities, like Foster City, San Mateo and Burlingame, have been hosting increased educational workshops and considering heightened regulations. 

A 2023 study showed e-bikes to be an increasingly common pediatric health problem, Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, said during the town hall Jan. 28, with 2.4 times greater odds for severe injury for children on e-bikes compared to pedal bikes. 

In his district, Marin County is piloting a new program that prohibits anyone under the age of 16 from riding class two e-bikes, which have a throttle feature that allows for quick acceleration. 

Data from the pilot, including e-bike related traffic stops, will be presented to the California Legislature in 2028. 

“We believe that setting an age limit for operators and collecting more data on this issue will significantly reduce crashes and help ensure that our streets remain safe for everyone,” Connolly said. 

The difference between class two e-bikes with pedals and throttle assist, which legally go up to 20 mph, and class one and three e-bikes, which typically only have pedal assist but can go up to 20 mph and 28 mph, respectively, is stark, e-bike advocate Bob Mittelstaedt said. 

This is further exacerbated by the sale of throttle-powered bikes that are classified as electric but often can go beyond 20 mph, making them more akin to e-motorcycles, Mittelstaedt said. He warned parents away from purchasing these — which can often be found on online sites — for their children. 

“For parents, our advice is to buy pedal bikes, the old-fashioned ones, or if your child needs some assistance to get a pedal assist, a class one. Buy local. Don’t buy online,” he said. “And of course, buy it legal.” 

In his experience, most kids at schools he’s visited are still riding conventional bikes. Of the quarter that are electric, however, many exceed 750-watt motor power or the 20 mph speed. 

“Ultimately, parents are legally and financially responsible if they allow children to ride these non-street legal vehicles,” Mittelstaedt said. 

It’s important for parents to weigh their child’s biking needs and ability before purchasing an e-bike, Marin Safe Routes to Schools Director Gwen Froh said at the town hall. Teaching students about the dangers of a crash on an e-bike, knowing the rules of the road and emphasizing speed control is also imperative. 

“Reducing traffic makes safer streets for everyone, and it’s good for our health and our planet, but they are harder to control, harder to stop,” Froh said. 

As communities across the state deal with the e-bike issue, regional continuity of regulation will also become increasingly important, Asha Weinstein Agrawal, San Jose State University professor and researcher, said. 

“What would it be like to drive a motor vehicle in San Mateo County, you had to be at least 16, in Santa Clara County, you had to be at least 18, and in San Francisco, you could be 14?” she said. “It just becomes extremely confusing for the public if the rules keep changing when they cross boundaries.” 

Assemblymember Diane Papan, D-San Mateo, will also be hosting an e-bike forum this weekend on Jan. 31 at Mills High School Theater from 10 a.m. to noon. Papan has also been contending with the e-bike issue, recently introducing legislation that would prohibit e-bikes from exceeding 750 watts of motor power.