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Resident urges city action on throttle e‑bikes after public‑safety concerns
Summary
A Lafayette resident told the city council that throttle‑enabled e‑bikes (class 2) sold for children can be modified to exceed 20 mph and pose public‑safety risks; council members discussed local education, enforcement and potential coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and school programs.
Lafayette — During the Sept. 8 public comment period, resident Dave Dondero urged the City Council to take action on throttle‑equipped e‑bikes (California class 2), arguing that some models are heavy, resemble motorcycles and are easily modified to exceed the 20 mph limit.
Dondero said the bikes can weigh as much as 90 pounds, are sold in youth‑oriented styles and — when modified — can reach speeds above 30 mph. He said parents and the community do not appreciate the risks posed by throttled e‑bikes and asked the council to pursue two approaches: increased local enforcement and education to remove dangerous bikes from public trails and sidewalks, and coordination with neighboring cities to press the state to reclassify some throttle‑equipped devices as motorized vehicles requiring licensing, registration and age limits.
Council response: Councilmember McCracken thanked Dondero and noted that Danville and Marin County are considering age restrictions layered on top of state e‑bike classes. Council members reported school outreach underway: the city’s emergency preparedness coordinator and school staff are preparing safety presentations and a Slow Down Lafayette presentation focused on e‑bike safety is scheduled for the TransCirc commission. Councilmembers said they would consider bringing an item to a future council meeting to raise public awareness.
Context: Dondero described two young riders he clocked on the Iron Horse Trail going over 30 mph and said the ability to disable speed limiters at the shop or via instructions in manuals is a crucial problem. Council members noted that state law establishes e‑bike classes and that local ordinances can layer additional restrictions in some jurisdictions.
Ending: Council members asked staff to coordinate with school and commission programs on e‑bike safety outreach; no formal legislative or enforcement action was taken at the meeting.
