Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the E Bikes Safety Ab1778 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local cyclists, physicians urge BPAC to recommend town implement AB 1778 age limit for throttle e‑bikes
Summary
Speakers at the Corte Madera Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee urged the panel to agendize and recommend that the Town Council adopt an ordinance under California Assembly Bill 1778 to restrict throttle-equipped e‑bike operation to people 16 and older, citing higher injury rates for younger riders and county grand jury findings.
Speakers at the Jan. 13 meeting of the Corte Madera Bicycling Pedestrian Advisory Committee urged the committee to recommend that the town implement Assembly Bill 1778, a state law that authorizes local governments to prohibit riders under 16 from operating throttle-equipped e‑bikes.
The request was made during the public-comment portion by Bob Mittelstaedt of Ebike Access, a nonprofit that promotes e‑bike availability. “AB 1778 ... authorizes Corte Madera and the other municipalities to require riders of throttle e‑bikes to be at least 16 years old,” Mittelstaedt said, and he urged the committee to take a leadership role countywide.
The argument was reinforced by Dr. John Ma, who described a patient he treated after a serious e‑bike crash and called for Corte Madera to lead a county pilot implementing AB 1778. “Class 2 e‑bikes with a throttle can travel up to 20 miles per hour,” Ma said, adding that Marin County emergency-room data show higher mortality among people seriously injured in e‑bike crashes.
Why it matters: advocates said the measure targets safety for younger riders and the broader public. Speakers cited a county civil grand jury report that concluded operation of class‑2 throttle e‑bikes by operators under 16 posed a significant safety risk.
What happened at the meeting: committee members did not take a formal vote on AB 1778 during the session. Multiple members asked that the item be agendized for future BPAC review and for the committee to consider recommending the ordinance to the Town Council so the town could evaluate enforcement and implementation options.
Next steps: a BPAC member asked staff to place AB 1778 on a future agenda so the committee, schools and public-safety partners can discuss practical enforcement and outreach before any recommendation to council.
