E-Bike Safety

E-bikes can provide a convenient and enjoyable way to get around. Explore resources that provide riders and families information about choosing the right bike, understanding California’s e-bike classes, and riding safely.



E-BIKE PARENT AND CAREGIVER GUIDE

You are your child’s best safety advocate. As more students are riding e-bikes to school, e-bike injuries among youth are increasing and are often more severe. Safe habits and the right equipment lower the risks of a crash and serious injuries.

What’s Different About E-Bikes

E-bikes give young riders more independence, and they also come with more responsibility.

  • Faster speeds than a regular bike
  • Heavier weight, so they take longer to stop
  • More skill needed to handle and control the bike
  • Longer trips with more time in traffic

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only a Class 1 e-bike for riders ages 12 to 15, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission advises that children ages 9-12 should not operate any product that travels faster than 10 mph.

Is It Street Legal?

A legal e-bike must have working pedals, a motor of 750 watts or less, and fit into Class 1, 2, or 3. E-motos are not e-bikes and cannot be ridden on public roadways. It is illegal to modify an e-bike's speed capability so that it no longer meets California's definition of an e-bike.

Research Before You Buy

  • What class is it?
  • Does it have working pedals and meet legal motor limits?
  • Where can it legally be ridden?
  • Is it right for your child’s age and experience?
  • Does your child have a properly fitted helmet?

When you can, buy from a local bike shop. Staff can confirm the bike is a legal e-bike, show your child how to ride it, and help with repairs.

Riding with a Passenger

Passengers need their own seat attached to the bike. Extra weight means a longer stopping distance. Passengers under 18 must wear a helmet, and on Class 3 e-bikes, all passengers regardless of age must wear one.

Start the Conversation

Short everyday questions help build safe habits:

  • "Want to check your helmet and bike together?”
  • "Which route are you taking today?”
  • "How will you make sure drivers can see you?”
  • "How do you stay safe around cars and people walking?”


E-Bike Education

We provide e-bike safety presentations for middle school students, parents and caregivers, and community groups. Presentations can be adapted to the audience and may be offered with local law enforcement partners when available. For more information or to request an E-bike Safety presentation contact us or call: 805 781-4944.

FAQs

There is no statewide minimum age to ride a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike in California. Riders must be at least 16 to operate a Class 3 e-bike.
In California, riders under age 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet when riding any bike, including an e-bike. Everyone riding a Class 3 e-bike, including passengers, must wear a helmet regardless of age.
E-bikes can generally be ridden where bicycles are allowed, but rules may vary by e-bike class and location. Cities, counties, parks, and other local authorities may restrict e-bike use in certain areas, so check posted signs and local rules.
Yes. California considers an e-bike a bicycle, and e-bike riders are subject to the same traffic laws as other bicyclists. That includes obeying stop signs, traffic signals, right-of-way rules, and other rules of the road.
No. A legal Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3 e-bike does not require a driver's license or vehicle registration.
Not in California. An off-highway electric motorcycle, or e-moto, is not an e-bike and cannot legally be operated on public roadways. E-motos are considered off-highway vehicles that must be registered for off-highway use. Some electric vehicles that cannot be registered are limited to private property.
 
An e-bike cannot be modified so that its speed capability takes it outside California's legal definition of an e-bike. A bike that no longer meets the legal requirements for an e-bike may be subject to different vehicle laws and restrictions.