San Mateo Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program

The pilot gives San Mateo jurisdictions a tool to set a minimum age for lower-speed e-bikes, with notice, training-based fine relief, and required reporting on enforcement and safety outcomes.

What the law does ​

• Allows San Mateo County cities and other local authorities, and the county in unincorporated areas, to prohibit riders under 12 from operating class 1 or 2 e-bikes.
• Requires warnings for the first 60 days after a local prohibition takes effect, then permits $25 fines.
• Lets a cited rider avoid court processing and citation fees by completing an approved e-bike safety course within 120 days.
• Requires at least 30 days of public information before a local rule takes effect.
• Requires the county to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2030, on stops, enforcement actions, demographic observations, searches and seizures, training use, and serious or fatal crashes involving riders under 12.
• Requires local officials to consider the San Diego pilot report at a public meeting or hearing, depending on when they adopt their rule.
• Repeals the pilot on January 1, 2031.

Who it affects ​

• Children under 12 who operate class 1 or 2 e-bikes in San Mateo County jurisdictions that adopt a prohibition.
• Parents and legal guardians, who are jointly liable for fines imposed on unemancipated minors in their custody.
• San Mateo County and local authorities that choose to adopt and enforce the prohibition.
• Peace officers conducting stops under a local prohibition.

Context ​

The law does not itself impose a countywide ban; each eligible local authority must adopt its own ordinance or resolution.