Fairfax council approves first reading of ordinance to restrict throttle e-bikes for riders under 16, adds helmet and education provisions

Fairfax Town Council introduced, on first reading and by title only, an ordinance to add local rules for electric and “micro‑mobility” devices that would treat class 2 throttle e‑bikes more like higher‑speed electric bicycles and restrict them to riders 16 and older, require helmets for those devices and rely mainly on education and secondary enforcement.

County staffer Talia Smith told the council the county’s data show a marked increase in serious injuries involving youth on certain e‑bikes. “When it comes to e‑bikes, that youth age group 10 to 15 have a 5 times higher accident rate than other age groups,” Smith said, summarizing Marin County tracking that began in 2023.

The nut graf: the ordinance uses authority granted by Assembly Bill 1778, a state law that created a Marin County pilot allowing jurisdictions to opt in and apply stricter age and helmet rules to class 2 (throttle) e‑bikes. Supporters said pairing regulation with a coordinated public education campaign and school outreach is essential; several council members and…