Bill to Improve E-Bike Consumer Protections Clears Legislature, Goes to Governor

SB 1167 makes clear that electric vehicles too powerful or fast to meet the definition of an e-bike are not to be marketed or sold as e-bikes

 SACRAMENTO – The Legislature on Friday passed legislation by Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, to strengthen consumer protections around how electric bicycles are marketed and sold, and sent it to the Governor to sign. 

The legislation prevents manufacturers and sellers from labeling an electric motor vehicle as an e-bike if it doesn’t meet the requirements of an e-bike. California law defines an e-bike as having no more than 750 watts of power and going no faster than 20 mph on a throttle or 28 mph when pedal assisted. 

“SB 1167 brings clarity to the e-bike marketplace, so consumers know if they are buying an e-bike or something else that goes much faster and carries greater risk,” Sen. Blakespear said. 

“As communities across California cope with the big increase in e-bikes and how to ensure our local roads stay safe, consumers need to know what they are riding and the safety and requirements that come with it.”

The popularity of e-bikes has raised safety concerns across California as they have flooded city streets. Faster two-wheeled vehicles, such as mopeds or motorcycles, require licenses and specific safety gear, while e-bikes are regulated essentially the same as bicycles. 

The fastest e-bikes‚ defined as Class 3‚ cannot legally be ridden by anyone under the age of 16. However‚ many people don’t know what class of e-bike they are buying‚ what its top speed is or whether it is even an e-bike. 

Under SB 1167, sellers of faster and/or more powerful vehicles would be required to inform consumers that they don’t meet the definition of an e-bike and therefore require vehicle registrations and licenses to operate.

Every e-bike sold in the state would be required to have a label on its frames facing skyward‚ so it is easy to see and read‚ identifying what class of e-bike it is and the maximum speed it can go. Law enforcement would be required to include label information on incident reports. 

The legislation is co-sponsored by CalBike, PeopleForBikes, Streets For All and Streets Are For Everyone and is supported by more than 100 different organizations. 

SB 1167 passed the Assembly 77-0 on Tuesday and the Senate on concurrence on Friday XX-XX.  

Sen. Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.