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Traffic Safety Commission weighs two state ebike bills amid concerns about enforcement and school-route safety
Summary
Commissioners discussed AB 1942 (registration/plates for some class 2/3 ebikes) and SB 1167 (clarifying that higher-powered motorized bikes are e-motorbikes) and urged coordination with schools and county enforcement; local police noted enforcement and identification challenges.
A commissioner briefed the Traffic Safety Commission on two pending state bills related to electric bicycles: AB 1942, which would require registration and plates for some class 2 and class 3 ebikes via the DMV, and SB 1167, which would clarify that higher-powered, throttle-driven vehicles above a power threshold are e-motorbikes subject to different regulation.
"The first one is would require class two and class three ebike owners to register their bikes to carry registration ... and it would be handled by the DMV," the commissioner said, noting the biking community's concerns that the measure could be burdensome.
Sergeant Tilman, speaking for the police perspective, said some vehicles presented on trails are essentially motorized bikes without pedals and that officers use physical cues (for example, absence of pedals and the presence of pegs) to distinguish them. "When you see an ebike, which we would classify as an E motorcycle with just pegs and no pedals, that's the first identifier," he said.
Commission discussion emphasized coordination with the school district because many of the city's safety concerns involve children traveling to school. Commissioners also said they prefer the state to set standards so that rules apply uniformly to trails and local streets rather than a patchwork of local ordinances. One commissioner noted that registration requirements could discourage purchases of class 2 and class 3 bikes, while others warned that enforcement practices and public awareness of DMV processes are limited.
No formal position was taken by the commission at the March 10 meeting. Commissioners suggested the city task force and police continue to monitor the legislation and coordinate with the city council and regional partners if formal comment or support is needed.
