Proposed CA E-Bike Legislation Gains Traction On Road To State Law

CARLSBAD, CA — Two E-bike bills aimed at Safety Training and developing a statewide Bike Smart Handbook passed the Senate Transportation Committee this week.

Carlsbad State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner lauded the process over social media, thanking the bipartisan support ushering her bills toward becoming state law.

"My bill on E-Bike Safety Training and the online Bike Smart Handbook passed Senate Transportation with unanimous, bipartisan support," she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "Thank you to Senate Transportation Chair Sen.Dave Cortese, committee members, and staff!"

This is the second year that Boerner is attempting to get this bill passed.

In early 2024, she re-introduced AB-2259, designed as a comprehensive and online E-bike training manual for safe driving, and AB-2234, now known as the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program.

According to the Encinitas Advocate, e-bike advocates are concerned that the law will overburden families and discourage ridership. Proponents say the law would promote education and safety among young riders unfamiliar with road safety.

While e-bike usage has increased, e-bike injuries have also become more common, according to a statement from Boerner's office.

"With more e-bikes on the road, these injuries have occurred more frequently and resulted in severe injuries and even deaths. E-bike injuries have become more prevalent than traditional bicycle injuries, with children 13 years and under making up the majority of e-bike injuries requiring a hospital visit.

"According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, there were 3,945 e-bike injuries between 2011 and 2020. The e-bike injuries increased over time during the study period, with the 10-13 year old age group making up 44% of those injuries. Children under 14 comprised 72% of e-bike injuries over the study period.

"As a mother, I believe that we must act to prevent our youth from injuries and educate parents on the benefits and responsibility of e-bikes, and AB 2234 takes a step to increase their safety while sharing the road. Given the increase of e-bike incidents that have taken place in our communities, it becomes the responsibility of the community and the state to ensure not another one of our children is seriously injured," she said. "Through education "and redirection, not punishment, we can teach young riders to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of others on the road."

Once t"e pilot pro" ram pa"ses, by 2028, once a child turns 12, they must take an online driver safety course to ride the class 1 or 2 E-bike.

Supporters hope it will be signed into law by the end of this year.

This session, she announced her quest to present legislation ensuring traffic safety and protection for E-bike riders and others who share the road with them.

"Safety is important to me and everyone in my community," she said in March. "I want to see kids living their best lives on an E-bike, but I want to see them get home safely, too."

Other bills headed to theState Senate include:

These Tasha B. specials are headed to the Senate 🎉 pic.twitter.com/2GXtld0Ltp
— Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (@asmtasha) May" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/asmtasha/s... 24, 2024