Safety Message—Teens on E-bikes
This week, I thought that I would shift gears and discuss a hazard that most of us have encountered with increasing frequency, namely teenagers on e-bikes. While I don’t intend to disparage teenagers (I once was one long ago), my personal experience tells me that teens and e-bikes are a toxic combination. I had two experiences in the past year that pointed up the dangers.
The first experience was on a Sunday social ride on the loop from Kanan to Westlake Boulevard. Our group was proceeding west on Kanan, and a group of about 10 teens on e-bikes passed us on the left--all doing wheelies. As our group started to cross an intersection, the e-bike group took a sharp right turn in front of us onto the intersection and forced some of us to take evasive measures to avoid a head-on crash. Unsurprisingly, none of these teens wore helmets.
The second experience happened several weeks ago after a Saturday post-ride breakfast. I drove my car out of the parking lot onto Kanan (just east of Lindero) and proceeded east. I stopped at a stop light about a hundred yards into Kanan, and there were 2 teens (appeared 13-14 years old) on what appeared to be big e-bikes with throttles, no pedals, and knobby wheels (looked like electric motorcycles) in the lane to the right. They were not wearing helmets. I have come to learn that these bikes are known as e-motos. When the light changed, they both took off doing wheelies, and within about 5 seconds were exceeding 50 MPH. I took a video of this and included my speedometer in the video to show their speed (If interested, I can show you). I followed them for about 3-4 miles, they maintained a speed of about 50-55, and they continued doing wheelies at that speed. Unfortunately, these are not isolated incidents—just 2 of the many that I have witnessed.
My best advice for dealing with teens on e-bikes or e-motos is to steer clear when possible, and to remain vigilant in the presence of reckless behavior (i.e. no helmets and
doing acrobatics on the bike).
Just below, I include a AI primer on e-bike and e-motorbike regulations and classification, (verified for accuracy), followed by a link showing the same text with references:
What are the classes of e-bikes and what are the regulations for these e-bikes in California? Also, in this discussion, please include emotos.
California recognizes three e-bike classes: Class 1 is pedal-assist only up to 20 mph, Class 2 is throttle-equipped and can move without pedaling up to 20 mph, and Class 3 is pedal-assist only up to 28 mph. In California, e-bikes must have operable pedals and a motor of less than 750 watts; if a two-wheeler exceeds those limits, it generally stops being an e-bike and starts looking like a moped or motorcycle under state law.
California rules
E-bikes are generally treated like bicycles in California, so they do not require DMV registration, a license plate, motor vehicle insurance, or an operator’s license. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes have no age restriction, while Class 3 riders must be at least 16 and wear a helmet; all riders under 18 must wear a helmet on any bike, and Class 3 passengers also must wear helmets.
Where you can ride
California allows e-bikes on roadways and, broadly, on bicycle lanes, bikeways, and bicycle paths, though local agencies can impose some restrictions on certain trails. The state also allows Class 3 speed-assist only up to 28 mph, and the motor must stop assisting beyond that limit.
Emotos
“E-motos” are the gray-area or illegal two-wheeled electric vehicles that fall outside California’s e-bike definition, usually because they lack operable pedals, exceed 750 watts, or assist beyond the legal speed limits. Those vehicles are not treated as bicycles; they typically require DMV registration and a motorcycle license, and they are not allowed to use bike lanes like legal e-bikes.
Practical takeaway
If you are buying or inspecting one, the key questions are: does it have pedals, is the motor under 750 watts, does it cut off at 20 mph or 28 mph depending on class, and does it have a throttle only within Class 2 limits. If the answer is “no” to any of those, it may be an emoto or another motor vehicle rather than a legal e-bike.
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