"There's definitely an education problem. In California, bike advocates are pushing a new bill designed to clear up that confusion around what counts as an electric bicycle—and what doesn't. It's a tricky balance. On one hand, backers want to allow riders access to new, faster, and more affordable non-car transportation options, ones that don't require licenses and are emission-free."
"E-bike-related injuries jumped more than 1,020 percent nationwide between 2020 and 2024, according to hospital data, though it's not clear if the stats-keepers can routinely distinguish between e-bikes and their faster, 'e-moto' cousins. Moped and powered-assisted cycle injuries jumped 67 percent in that same period."
"Senate Bill 1167 would make it illegal for retailers to label higher-powered, electric-powered vehicles as e-bikes. It would clarify that e-bikes have fully operative pedals and electric motors that don't exceed 750 watts, enough to hit top speeds between 20 and 28 mph."
California faces growing confusion between e-bikes and faster electric motorcycles, prompting regulatory action. E-bike-related injuries surged over 1,020 percent between 2020 and 2024, though statistics may conflate e-bikes with more powerful e-motos. Senate Bill 1167 aims to clarify definitions by making it illegal for retailers to mislabel high-powered electric vehicles as e-bikes. True e-bikes would be defined as having fully operative pedals and motors not exceeding 750 watts, enabling speeds between 20 and 28 mph. Advocates support regulation to protect consumers and riders while maintaining access to affordable, emission-free transportation without requiring licenses.
#e-bike-regulation #consumer-safety #electric-vehicle-classification #california-legislation #transportation-policy
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