SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- Proposed regulations aimed at improving e-bike safety for children and families in San Diego moved forward Wednesday after receiving unanimous approval from the city council's Public Safety Committee during a meeting on the matter.
The proposal, introduced by councilmember Raul Campillo, would establish new safety rules for riders across the city as the popularity of e-bikes continues to grow.
"I'm grateful to my committee colleagues for their alignment on pushing this critical issue forward," said Campillo. "I also want to give credit to assemblymember Tasha Boerner since it was her Assembly Bill (AB) 2234 that set the groundwork for these regulations at the state level."
The measure would prohibit children under the age of 12 from riding Class 1 (pedal-assist only with no throttle) and Class 2 (both pedal-assist and a throttle up to 20 mph) e-bikes. It would also limit passengers to bikes that are specifically designed to carry more than one rider and include a permanent second seat.
Another key part of the proposal focuses on education. The plan calls for an "education-first" diversion program, allowing riders who violate the rules to take a safety course instead of immediately facing penalties.
Supporters say the rules are meant to address safety concerns following reports from medical professionals regarding a rise in severe trauma cases among children involved in e-bike accidents.
"I applaud the City of San Diego for taking e-bike safety seriously," said Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear. "Youths who lack maturity and training on road safety and rules should not be driving high powered, motorized vehicles. E-bikes are an important part of a modern bicycling landscape and common-sense guardrails like this one need to be adopted."
Assemblymember Boerner also commented, explaining that the law was designed to give cities tools to address growing safety concerns as e-bike use expands.
"With the surge of e-bikes across San Diego, we've witnessed accidents occur more frequently and with greater severity, even resulting in deaths," Boerner said. "As a mom with children who ride e-bikes, I worry daily about them coming home safely."
She then commended Campillo's leadership on the ordinance, saying it "represents a decisive step towards preventing harm to our youth and making our streets safer for children and families sharing the road."
Before the new rules can take effect, the proposal must still receive approval from the San Diego City Council, which could happen in the coming weeks. If adopted, the city would launch a 30-day public outreach campaign to educate residents about the new requirements before enforcement begins.