(1) Existing law defines an electric bicycle as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and classifies electric bicycles into 3 classes with different restrictions for various purposes.

This bill would require all class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles manufactured, sold, or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2029, to be equipped with a speedometer. The bill would also require all electric bicycles manufactured, sold, or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2029, to be equipped with an integrated front lamp and a rear lamp, as specified.

The bill would also require manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles to include a written description of California’s electric bicycle laws with the bicycle’s packaging to be provided to the consumer. The bill would also require sellers and distributors of electric bicycles to provide specified disclosures at or before the point of sale. The bill would make a violation of these provisions punishable by a civil penalty not to exceed $15,000 for a first violation and not to exceed $50,000 for each subsequent violation, upon an action brought by the Attorney General, a city attorney, a county counsel, or a district attorney. The bill would specify that a violation of these provisions is not a criminal offense.

(2) Existing law regulates the operation of bicycles on highways and authorizes local authorities to, among other things, prohibit, by ordinance, the operation of an electric bicycle or any class of electric bicycle on equestrian trails or hiking or recreational trails.

This bill would authorize a local authority to set a speed limit on a bicycle path of 15 or 20 miles an hour or on a multiuse trail to 10, 15, or 20 miles per hour, subject to specified signage requirements. The bill would also prohibit a person under 16 years of age from riding an electric bicycle at a speed greater than 15 miles per hour on a highway or a bicycle path. The bill would also make technical, nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

(3) Existing law establishes various prima facie speed limits. Existing law establishes that specified convictions and violations under the Vehicle Code and traffic-related incidents count as points against a driver’s record for purposes of the suspension or revocation of the privilege to drive, except as specified.

This bill would additionally set a prima facie speed limit of 10 miles per hour on a sidewalk and specify that a conviction of a violation of that speed limit shall not result in a violation point count.

(4) Under existing law, a violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime.