The California Medical Association and Assemblywoman Lori Wilson announced on Friday morning the introduction of Assembly Bill 2346, which aims to modernize California’s electric bicycle (e-bike) safety standards in response to a sharp rise in serious injuries among children and teenagers.
The legislation is informed by a state legislature-commissioned report from the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University, which highlighted how rapid technological advancements have outpaced current laws, leading to a proliferation of “out-of-class” vehicles that lack safety measures.
“As technology evolves, our laws must keep pace to ensure our streets remain safe for everyone, especially our children,” said Wilson in a news release. “This bill provides parents with the information they need to keep their children safe and gives local communities the necessary tools to enforce safe speeds. We are taking an evidence-based approach to prevent tragedy before it strikes.”
Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group
A bicyclist rides a motorized e-bike through a pedestrian walkway at a shopping center in Danville, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Joint author of the bill, Assemblymember Marc Berman, is proud to joing WIlson to, “crack down on those that misrepresent the speed and power of their products and put clear, enforceable guardrails in place to keep our kids safe.”
“Across California, we’re seeing more and more children get seriously hurt while riding high-powered e-bikes that are marketed like toys but operate more like motorcycles,” said Berman. “We can support innovation and active transportation options while making sure families aren’t misled and our neighborhoods aren’t put at risk.”
Key provisions of AB 2346 include …
Beginning in 2029, require that all e-bikes sold in California be equipped with integrated lights and speedometers to improve visibility and rider awareness.
Require manufacturers and distributors selling in e-bikes in California provide consumers with a summary of e-bike laws and regulations.
Require retailers and distributors to clearly disclose to consumers what type of e-bike they’re selling and the maximum speed, battery wattage, age restrictions, helmet requirements of the device and a warning that modifying the e-bike speed limit is illegal.
Impose civil penalties for any manufacturer, distributor or retailer that violates these disclosure requirements.
Authorize local jurisdictions to adopt overall speed limits for e-bikes on bike and multi-use paths, or paths with appropriate signage.
Impose a statewide speed limit of 15 mph for any rider aged 15 years or younger.
Set a statewide speed limit of 5 mph when riding on a sidewalk.
Physicians across the state have reported a sharp increase in severe trauma injuries related to these vehicles, particularly among children and teenagers.
“As physicians, we see the medical consequences of high-speed e-bike crashes every day,” said California Medical Association President René Bravo, M.D. “These are powerful motorized devices, not the bikes many parents remember growing up with. When children ride them without helmets at high speeds, the injuries can be life-altering. This bill aligns safety rules with medical reality and helps prevent avoidable harm.”
