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San Rafael council restricts throttle e-bikes for riders under 16 and requires helmets
Summary
The San Rafael City Council introduced and adopted an ordinance implementing age and helmet requirements for throttle (class 2) e-bikes, aligning local rules with Assembly Bill 1778 and launching an education-focused county campaign.
San Rafael — The City Council on Aug. 18 introduced and adopted an ordinance that restricts the use of throttle (class 2) electric bicycles by riders under 16 and requires helmets for riders of those devices.
The measure implements authorities granted by Assembly Bill 1778 and brings San Rafael into alignment with a countywide effort to reduce injuries among young riders. The council voted 4-0 to introduce and adopt the ordinance and to add Chapter 5.35, “Operations of Electric Mobility Devices,” to the municipal code.
Why it matters: County public health and EMS data presented to the council show a sharp rise in e-bike injuries among the youngest riders. Talia Smith, director of legislative intergovernmental affairs for Marin County, said the county’s data collection found that “for e-bikes, 10 to 15 year olds…
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