Corte Madera council introduces ordinance under state e‑bike pilot banning class 2 use by under‑16s, adds helmet rule

The Corte Madera Town Council on Tuesday voted 5‑0 to introduce an ordinance implementing Assembly Bill 1778, the Marin Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, which would bar anyone under 16 from operating a class 2 electric bicycle in town and require anyone riding a class 2 e‑bike to wear a helmet. The ordinance, if finalized, would take effect July 1, 2025, with a 60‑day warning and education period before citation enforcement begins.

Safety officials told the council the measure is intended to reduce injuries and enforce consistent rules across Marin County. "Assembly Bill 1778 ... is really focusing on reducing the number of injuries sustained by that age group, as well as just safe operations, of class 2 e bikes," said Lieutenant Duenas, who oversees the traffic division for the Central Marin Police Authority. He cited Marin Public Health data showing higher accident rates among 10‑ to 15‑year‑olds.

The ordinance would adopt two main provisions from the state pilot: a local ban on class 2 e‑bike operation by people under 16, and a requirement that anyone operating a class 2 e‑bike wear a helmet. The bill requires a countywide public education campaign before enforcement and directs the Marin County Sheriff's Office to collect specified incident reports. The law is a temporary, countywide pilot scheduled to expire Jan. 1, 2029.

Council members and public speakers debated enforcement limits and education. Lieutenant Duenas said officers would normally use the new rule as a secondary offense — for example, after stopping a rider for running a stop sign — because police cannot routinely demand proof of age without probable cause. "Adoption of 1778 allows us to use this as a tool, but we can't violate someone's civil rights and stop them to verify their age," he said. He also described the statutory limits on fines: citations must be preceded by 60 days of warnings and fines cannot exceed $25 under the Assembly bill.

Council members pressed law enforcement on the practicalities of educating young riders and how citations would be handled. Council member Andrews asked where the remedial bicycle safety courses required to void a citation would be held; Lieutenant Duenas said courses are available in Mill Valley and from the California Highway Patrol but registering for the class may cost more than the fine. He also noted the statute allows a violator to void a citation by completing a bicycle safety course and presenting proof of completion within 120 days.

Several public commenters and community groups backed the policy. Gwen Ferro, program director for Marin Safe Routes to Schools, said the ordinance gives parents "a leg" to confront students who say they feel peer pressure to ride class 2 bikes. David Bell, a resident, urged additional signage and educational outreach to address speed concerns on paths. Several speakers pressed for more on‑the‑ground enforcement visibility and school‑based education.

Police and council members also described enforcement constraints: Central Marin Police Authority says it has been proactive on education and enforcement but has limited on‑the‑ground personnel because some officers are in the academy or in field training. "The challenge has been, even though we have been proactive ... 9 out of 10 times that juvenile or whoever's riding the bike flees," Lieutenant Duenas said, adding that pursuits are limited for officer and public safety.

The ordinance introduction drew unanimous support. Council member Andrews moved to introduce the ordinance; the council voted yes — Andrews, Beckman, Casiza, Vice Mayor Thomas and Mayor O'Vasio — and the measure was placed on a future agenda for formal adoption.

Staff and law enforcement said they will coordinate with the county's planned public‑awareness campaign and the Marin County Sheriff's Office reporting required by the bill.

The council and presenters emphasized that the ordinance is one tool among education and enforcement efforts and will not eliminate all e‑bike safety problems on its own. Additional local measures — signage, school outreach and patrol visibility — were discussed as follow‑up steps.