What to do with rules for e-bikes in Foster City?

According to police data presented at a City Council meeting Dec. 15, there have been 10 e-bike collisions in the city so far this year, eight of those involving minors, compared to three collisions last year. There have been about three collisions involving traditional bicycles so far this year, down from 10 last year.

Mounting concern over e-bikes, particularly among preteens and adolescents, has led to some cities, such as San Mateo and Burlingame, conducting more training workshops for residents. The Burlingame School District recently launched a pilot program requiring students register e-bikes to park them on campus to ensure they are street legal and compliant with safety regulations. Marin County and the Menlo Park School Board banned some e-bikes in certain areas and among certain age groups.

The electric bikes can fall into Class 1-3, with Class 3 bikes going up to 28 mph and require that riders are 16 or older. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes can go up to 20 mph and do not have a minimum age restriction.

Many bike advocates opposed Foster City’s recent efforts, stating the city should more heavily focus on developing better bike lane infrastructure and the repercussions of dangerous driving.

Councilmember Phoebe Venkat said she would be opposed to any potential e-bike ban, calling it “very shortsighted.”

“It’s about prioritizing the right actions rather than blame and shame kids and blame and shame parents,” Venkat said.

Councilmember Stacy Jimenez agreed with the need for better infrastructure but said that doesn’t negate the need for more discussion on e-bike safety.

“We’re looking at infrastructure,” she said. “We’re also looking at the issue with cars. We just lowered speed limits to make our roads safer, so to say that we are just focusing on e-bikes and making issues with kids is just absolutely not true.”

City Manager Stefan Chatwin added that “we’re not trying to suggest that e-bikes are the problem for everything.”