California's e-bike laws and restrictions: A guide on what to know

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It might whir like an e-bike and look like an e-bike, but that electric cycle sitting in the garage might not technically be an e-bike, or even be street legal, in California.E-bikes have zoomed into popularity across the country, especially among kids and teens, and that surge has been met with a wide array of models with different specifications and abilities.But according to law enforcement officials who have worked on cases involving e-bikes, many of the models being gifted to kids and teens that are bought from brick and mortar and online retailers are more akin to motorcycles than bicycles, and can reach dangerous speeds in seconds.“Sometimes, what looks like an e-bike or is marketed as an e-bike is not a bike at all,” said state Atty.

Gen.Rob Bonta in a consumer warning about e-bikes in April.

“If your or your teen’s electric two-wheeled vehicle goes too fast, it might be a motorcycle or moped.”Police departments are also trying to educate the public before issuing citations or towing an illegal bike, but officials said it’s a challenge.“We’re educating the public on what these terms are, what they mean, and what to look for,” said Los Angeles police officer Brandon Pon of the West Traffic Division.

“Most of these collisions, for the large part, they’re likely preventable.”It’s not just an issue of terminology; the consequences of a parent handing over what they think is an e-bike but with the capacity of a motorcycle to an inexperienced teenage rider can be disastrous, he said.Here are some suggestions on what to look out for.An electric two-wheeled vehicle with an electric motor is not considered an e-bike, cannot be ridden by anyone without a motorcycle license and requires vehicle registration with the DMV if it has any one of these specifications:Electric cycles in California are also divided into three classes, depending on features and sp...