I applaud the leadership of supervisors Jackie Speier and Ray Mueller to introduce an ordinance to promote e-micromobility safety across San Mateo County. I was baffled by the board president’s opposition to the ordinance by raising concerns it might infringe on her 15-year-old son’s use of an e-scooter on sidewalks. What the president overlooked is that California law requires a driver’s license (or learner’s permit) to operate an e-scooter, and California Vehicle Code states it is illegal to ride an e-scooter on sidewalks except when entering or exiting a property.
The board president’s using illegal e-scooter riding by a likely underage and unlicensed minor as an example of legal e-micromobility usage exactly illustrates why clarification of this confusing regulatory landscape is needed — if our leaders do not know what is legal, how can parents and students? Education of parents before e-bike and e-scooter purchases, and of children before getting out on our roads, is crucial.
Operating a motorized e-scooter creates new hazards on city sidewalks, as the quiet motor cannot be heard by nearby pedestrians. Finally, it is unclear why operating an e-scooter that is limited to 15 mph by California law (and typically has a motor only around 400 watts) requires a driver’s license, but operating an e-bike with a 750 watt motor with speeds of 28 mph does not? These inconsistencies need to be addressed when the ordinance is brought back for final approval.
John Maa MD, FACS
San Francisco
The letter writer is a governor, American College of Surgeons.
All San Mateo residents should wonder how it is possible to get such an inept person, like Corzo, to reach that level of authority. Is pleasing the woke mentality more important than our safety and sanity?
This author seems to mix two different rules and regulations:
- an e-scooter (think children's toy) has to max out at 10-15mph does not require a driver's license
- an e-scooter (think Vespa) that requires a driver's license has >1hp and >30mph
- George W. Bush's low-speed electric bicycles (e-bike) from 2002 onwards are to be treated like regular bikes and have ADA relevance (1st Trump Administration).
This was all settled and enforceable and then Democrats like Speier, Mueller, Becker, Papan made a huge mess out of everything.
All the while real lawmakers in Sacramento are going after drunk and distracted killers in cars ... as they should:
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(2) comments
All San Mateo residents should wonder how it is possible to get such an inept person, like Corzo, to reach that level of authority. Is pleasing the woke mentality more important than our safety and sanity?
This author seems to mix two different rules and regulations:
- an e-scooter (think children's toy) has to max out at 10-15mph does not require a driver's license
- an e-scooter (think Vespa) that requires a driver's license has >1hp and >30mph
- George W. Bush's low-speed electric bicycles (e-bike) from 2002 onwards are to be treated like regular bikes and have ADA relevance (1st Trump Administration).
This was all settled and enforceable and then Democrats like Speier, Mueller, Becker, Papan made a huge mess out of everything.
All the while real lawmakers in Sacramento are going after drunk and distracted killers in cars ... as they should:
https://calmatters.org/investigation/2026/02/assembly-driving-bills/
PS.: If Mueller and Speier were so concerned about the safety of cyclists and pedestrians ... where are the long-promised bike lanes, Jackie?
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.