Vehicles: electric bicycles and speed limits

The law gives buyers clearer safety and legal information, requires future e-bikes to carry specified equipment, and gives local governments defined authority to manage speeds on paths and trails.

What the law does ​

• Requires manufacturers and distributors to permanently label e-bikes with their class, top assisted speed, and motor wattage.
• Requires sellers and distributors to provide written point-of-sale disclosures on e-bike classification, speed, wattage, age and helmet rules, state law, safety-training website, and a recommendation that riders under 16 stay at or below 15 mph.
• Requires a conspicuous warning that illegal speed-modification may trigger licensing, registration, and insurance requirements.
• Makes violations of the e-bike labeling and disclosure rules infractions, with fines up to $500 for a first conviction, $750 for a later conviction within three years, and $1,000 after two or more prior convictions within five years.
• Requires class 2 e-bikes made, sold, or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2029, to have speedometers, and all such e-bikes to have specified white front and red rear lamps.
• Allows local authorities to set bicycle-path and multiuse-trail speed limits of 15 or 20 mph, or 10 mph in limited areas with high pedestrian volumes or sight-distance challenges, with signs posted within 400 feet of each end of the zone.
• Sets a 10-mph prima facie speed limit on sidewalks when posted, without adding a driver-record point for a conviction.

Who it affects ​

• E-bike manufacturers, distributors, and sellers.
• People buying or riding electric bicycles.
• Local authorities setting and posting bicycle-path or multiuse-trail speed limits.

Context ​

Existing bicycle-path and multiuse-trail speed limits adopted before January 1, 2027, remain in effect.

Breakdown ​

E-Bike Equipment and Sales Disclosures ​

Starting January 1, 2029, class 2 electric bicycles must have speedometers, and all electric bicycles sold in California must have front and rear lamps. Sellers and distributors must give buyers information about an e-bike’s class and top speed, along with a recommendation that riders under 16 not exceed 15 miles per hour. Violations can be punished as infractions.

Key takeaways

• Class 2 electric bicycles made, sold, or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2029, must include a speedometer.
• All electric bicycles made, sold, or offered for sale on or after January 1, 2029, must have a built-in or detachable front lamp and a rear lamp.
• E-bike sellers and distributors must disclose the bicycle’s classification and maximum speed by the time of sale.
• Sellers and distributors must recommend that people under age 16 not ride an electric bicycle faster than 15 miles per hour.
• Failing to comply with these requirements is an infraction.

Local Bicycle Path Speed Limits ​

The bill lets local governments set speed limits of 10, 15, or 20 miles per hour on bicycle paths and multiuse trails, if they meet required sign-posting rules. Speed limits already in place on those paths or trails before January 1, 2027, remain valid.

Key takeaways

• Local governments may set bicycle-path speed limits at 10, 15, or 20 miles per hour.
• Local governments may set multiuse-trail speed limits at 10, 15, or 20 miles per hour.
• New speed limits are subject to the bill's signage requirements.
• Speed limits established on bicycle paths or multiuse trails before January 1, 2027, remain in effect.
• The bill also makes technical changes that do not alter the substance of the law.

Sidewalk Speed Limit ​

The bill sets a default speed limit of 10 miles per hour for travel on sidewalks. A conviction for violating this sidewalk speed limit does not add a point to the person’s driving record.

Key takeaways

• The bill creates a prima facie speed limit of 10 miles per hour on sidewalks.
• A person can be convicted for exceeding the sidewalk speed limit.
• A conviction for violating the sidewalk speed limit does not result in a point on the person’s driving record.

Local Enforcement Costs ​

The bill adds new Vehicle Code requirements, so violating them can be prosecuted as a crime. It says the state does not have to reimburse local agencies or school districts for costs tied to enforcing these new requirements.

Key takeaways

• The bill’s new Vehicle Code requirements can carry criminal penalties when violated.
• Local agencies may have enforcement-related duties because violations are crimes.
• The bill states that the state will not reimburse local agencies or school districts for resulting costs.
• The bill relies on a specified legal reason to deny reimbursement.