SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) — Marin County leaders on Tuesday will consider banning children from riding certain types of e-bikes. Supporters of the measure are raising concerns over safety.
State Assembly Bill 1778 allows local governments to put restrictions on “Class 2” e-bikes. These e-bikes that feature a throttle can go a maximum of 20 miles per hour. On Tuesday, the Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider hitting the brakes on this mode of transportation for children.
If approved, the ordinance would ban kids under the age of 16 from riding a Class 2 e-bike in Marin County. It would also make helmets mandatory on e-bikes.
Marin County Public Health sent out a safety alert in 2023 after a big jump in 911 calls involving kids crashing e-bikes and being seriously hurt. The department said the risk for 10- to 15-year-olds is five times higher than other age groups.
The county is launching a safety campaign in May to warn young people and their parents about the rise in accidents.
“I think there’s just not enough education to buyers on e-bikes and how to use them safely,” said Urban Carmel, commissioner of the Transportation Authority of Marin. “We run into this problem constantly in Mill Valley.”
Marin County Supervisor Mary Sackett, who has pushed for increased e-bike safety measures since the health department’s alert in November 2023, encourages families to choose pedal-assist Class 1 e-bikes, which have no throttle, for young riders.
“E-bikes enable riders to travel farther distances and flatten the hills of Marin,” Sackett said. “We want people to ride e-bikes safely. This ordinance provides clarity: Young riders under age 16 should not be on throttle-powered e-bikes.”
Bay City News contributed to this report.
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KRON) — Marin County leaders on Tuesday will consider banning children from riding certain types of e-bikes. Supporters of the measure are raising concerns over safety. State Assembly Bill 1778 allows local governments to put restrictions on “Class 2” e-bikes. These e-bikes that feature a throttle can go a maximum of 20 […]
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