E-Bikes: Balancing Benefits & Safety
- voteheatherhopkins
- Jan 13
- 3 min read
Everyone's talking about e-bikes, which have quickly become popular among students, and for good reason. They encourage biking instead of driving, give students more independence (while freeing up parents), and make that ride up to Altschul a little easier. There’s also a social component: e-bikes are popular, and many students want what their friends are riding.
Why Safety is a Growing Concern
At the same time, our community is increasingly concerned about safety. E-bikes travel significantly faster (20+ mph) than traditional bicycles (10-12 mph), are heavier, quieter, and require longer stopping distances.
Injuries from e-bike crashes also tend to be more serious than those from regular bikes. Young riders often underestimate the risks—things like going too fast, riding on sidewalks, not wearing helmets, or carrying passengers.
"[The relationship between e-bikes and students is a] developmental mismatch where the cognitive and physical abilities of young riders are outpaced by the machines they operate.”
— MPCSD Superintendent Kristin Gracia (The Almanac)
What is an e-bike?
To qualify as a legal e-bike Under CA law, the bike must have working pedals and an electric motor that assists the rider. The motor must be 750 watts or less and include safety features that limit motor-powered speeds. There are three different types, each with different rules related to rider age, helmet use, passengers, and where the bike may be ridden.
How other communities are responding
Some nearby school districts and cities are starting to take action. The Menlo Park City School District, for example, recently adopted a policy limiting students to pedal-assist Class 1 e-bikes.
Not all "e-bikes" are actually street legal
Here's another issue: a lot of e-vehicles sold as e-bikes aren't actually "bicycles" under CA law; some are electric motorcycles ("e-motos") or electric dirt bikes that go beyond legal speed or power limits for road use but are marketed in ways that make them seem fine for kids to ride around town. It's up to parents to make sure what they're purchasing for their child actually meets CA's legal definition of an e-bike.
The VICTRIP "Ebike" pictured here goes 28mph and has up to 1000W of power. The marketing says "Electric bikes that look like motorcycles are changing how teens and adults move around…because they feel fun, look cool, and often have a stronger motor and bigger battery than a standard e-bike." It suggests using the bike for "urban commutes, short errands, and school runs."
The small print: "Parents should weigh speed and local rules when buying one for a younger rider."
Here's another ad:
Beware of e-bike hacks
Menlo Park police have reported that students are also "jail-breaking" their Class 2 e-bikes to bypass built-in speed limits and safety features, making them harder to identify, tougher to control, and more dangerous to drive.
Things to Look Out For
Here are some ways students make their Class 2 e-bikes go faster:
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Looking Ahead
Our community is already having conversations about possible next steps, which could include safety education for students, more information for families, and potential board policy. I'll keep you posted.
Ultimately, my hope is that we balance safety with student independence and more biking to school. As always, please drive carefully and talk with your students if they're riding e-bikes, including hopping the back of a friend's.
Resources for Families
Overview flyer from the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE)
E-bike handbook from SMCOE – Excellent, detailed guidance for families on maintenance, charging, and safe battery storage.
E-bike safety course from PedalAce, which “empowers teens to drive ebikes responsibly, making communities safer for everyone.”
Parent Venture presentation: “E-Bike Safety: What Every Parent Should Know”
12-minute e-bike safety video from the California E-Bike Incentive Project
LLESD Safe Routes to School (contact info if you’d like to be involved)
Note: I’m sharing this for general informational purposes only. Because e-bike regulations are changing quickly, I encourage you to stay up to date on the most current laws and local policies.
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