CA Bill AB530 Bans children on E-Bikes

A proposed new law in California suggests that e-bikes should not be used by children under the age of 12. Additionally, individuals aged 12 and above must possess either a driver's license or a specific e-bike license to operate an e-bike.

You can track the progress of CA AB530 HERE .

Currently, California law prohibits anyone under 16 years old from riding a class 3 e-bike. This bill would place further restrictions. The current text, last amended on July 13th in assembly, has 4 main parts:

• A person under 16 years of age shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle.
• Anyone driving, riding on, or being towed behind a class 3 bicycle must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet meeting CPSC or ASTM standards.
• A person under 12 years of age shall not operate an electric bicycle of any class
• Create an e-bike license program with an online written test and a state-issued photo identification for those persons without a valid driver’s license.

Our thoughts:

I feel for kids who will not be allowed to ride an e-bike. This seems somewhat extreme, and perhaps a class of kid-friendly e-bikes should be created? Class 1 or 2 e-bikes go up to 20mph; perhaps the kids can still get on a 15 mph e-bike, or is the loophole that slower bikes are not considered E-Bikes? An outright ban seems overly protective to the kids. Do you remember riding your bike when you were a kid? This part needs more work or clarity about other electric vehicles below the class 1 e-bike standard, so it's expressly permitted and not subject to interpretation.

Helmets being required on Class 3 E-Bikes? Well, it's not a BAD idea, but I'm sure many others would argue that it's too restrictive of their personal freedoms. I would choose to wear a helmet anyhow, and we're not talking about full-on motorcycle helmets; the law specifies bicycle helmets which are much less a burden on the wearer.

As for an E-Bike license program, I think it's a great idea. I feel strongly that so many problems surrounding using personal electric vehicles come down to rider education. Learning the rules of the road helps keep the riders and others they encounter safer and makes them LESS IRRITATING to other drivers, improving the overall societal acceptance of Personal Electric Vehicles of all types. The only suggestion I'd make to this is not to limit it to E-Bikes. Let's educate all riders of scooters, EUCs, one-wheels, and e-bikes. There's a working group being put together to hash this part out, it's important that it's accessible and not burdensome to take the course and get the license!

There have also been more local efforts at E-Bike education such as this one in Laguna Beach, CA

Another program that's been in place for years to license children who ride ATVs, is rarely enforced partly because obtaining this license is unreasonably difficult, with classes few and far between only on certain random dates. Go to atvsafety.org and find a class near you, good luck getting anything this MONTH, if at all. The E-Bike License program needs to do MUCH BETER!

This bill is still in the comment period, go ahead and contact your local government representative and let them know what you do and don't like about it!