Why Foster City’s children need e-bike education now

In light of rising accidents across the Bay Area and a troubling lack of local data, the need for comprehensive e-bike regulation, education and training for Foster City’s youth has become critical.

A regional crisis hits home

While specific accident statistics for Foster City remain elusive — a problem in itself — the broader San Mateo County and Bay Area are sounding alarms. Nearby communities have been rocked by tragedies, including a devastating crash in Burlingame that involved an e-bike and resulted in the death of a child. Emergency rooms in the region report a significant spike in severe injuries from e-bike accidents involving minors, treating trauma more commonly associated with car collisions.

The issue is compounded by what a San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury report highlighted: a lack of consistent data. The report noted that across the county, “cities and law enforcement do not consistently maintain records about bicycle near misses, accidents, or complaints; data is neither broadly available nor consistently maintained.”

This means the problem is almost certainly worse than it appears. For every reported collision, countless near-misses and minor-to-moderate accidents go underreported, never becoming part of an official statistic. This data vacuum makes it incredibly difficult for city officials to grasp the true scale of the risk and respond appropriately, leaving a dangerous blind spot.

Understanding Foster City’s rules

The regulatory landscape in California, and by extension Foster City, is complex and often misunderstood by the public.

• Class 1 and 2 e-bikes: These are pedal-assist or throttle-powered bikes with a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph. Under state law, there is no minimum age to ride one.

• Class 3 e-bikes: These are faster pedal-assist bikes that can reach 28 mph. Riders must be 16 or older to operate one.

For all classes, helmets are mandatory for any rider under the age of 18. Furthermore, Foster City’s municipal code restricts riding on most sidewalks, yet this rule is commonly ignored, putting pedestrians at risk.

The most glaring gap is the lack of an age restriction for Class 1 and 2 bikes. These machines, which can weigh over 50 pounds and travel at 20 mph, are being legally operated by children as young as 10 or 11, who may lack the cognitive development, impulse control and understanding of traffic laws to manage them safely.

The urgent call for education and training

Regulation alone isn’t the answer. The core of the solution lies in mandatory education and practical training. A driver’s license requires classroom hours, a written test and a practical driving exam. Yet, a child can legally operate a 20-mph motorized vehicle with zero training.

This is a gap that must be filled. The San Mateo County Office of Education has already recognized this need, developing an e-bike safety toolkit for schools and families. This is a positive step, but more is needed:

1). School-based programs: E-bike safety should be integrated into school curricula, much like “Safe Routes to School” programs. This should include online modules, like the one recommended by the CHP and in-person “e-bike rodeos” to practice handling skills and defensive riding.

2). Parental accountability and education: Many parents are unaware of the specific laws, the different e-bike classes or the sheer power of the bikes they are purchasing. Public information campaigns and point-of-sale warnings are needed to educate parents on their responsibilities and the risks involved.

3). Visible enforcement: While education is key, it must be paired with consistent, visible enforcement of helmet laws, speed limits and rules against riding on sidewalks. This reinforces that e-bikes are vehicles, not toys.

The freedom and fun of an e-bike are undeniable. But for Foster City, a community built around the safety of its families, it’s time to pump the brakes. We must bridge the dangerous gap between a child’s access to speed and their understanding of its consequences. Until we treat e-bikes with the same seriousness as cars — instituting robust education and training — we are failing to protect our children from a peril that is hiding in plain sight.

Herb Perez is the former mayor of Foster City.