E-Bike Smart Marin What is MCBC Doing about E-Bikes?
MCBC has been engaged since the beginning of the e-bike revolution to encourage e-bike use as a viable alternative to driving and to promote safe and courteous riding. Read about what MCBC is doing about E-bikes from Gwen Froh, MCBC Education Director.
A revolution in how people get around
Three years ago, Marin County Bicycle Coalition spotted the opportunity to positively change our car-centric culture by promoting the arrival of the electric bicycle. People could surmount common barriers such as hills, long distances, and busy schedules on an e-bike. In a community eager to meet climate goals, families in Marin were among the earliest adopters of e-bikes in the nation; often, you’d see parents riding their kids to school on their e-cargo-bikes.
Community Concern for Safety
As e-bikes became more ubiquitous, so too did community concerns, particularly for the safety of students; with little prior cycling experience, a child of any age could effortlessly jump on two wheels and, with a flick of the wrist, take off.
Proactive Measures: E-Bike Smart Marin and Teen Classes
Seeing a need for extra instruction, MCBC took a proactive approach and created the E-Bike Smart Marin program, which included Buyer’s Guides for parents, community outreach, and teen safety classes. Because our program was the first in the nation, I was invited to share our experiences at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C.
E-Motorcycles sold as E-Bikes
About a year after the teen classes began, MCBC rapidly pivoted when attorneys, national bicycling advocacy groups, and local law enforcement confirmed that many of the labeled Class 2 e-bikes, such as Super 73, were not legal on public roads and pathways. People were stunned to learn that the e-motorcycles were built to go significantly faster than the 20 MPH limit imposed by California law as defined for low-speed Class 2 e-bikes. Severe and permanent motorcycle-equivalent injuries to brains and physical mobility, particularly among children 10-19, began to be reported by health professionals.
In response to Marin’s Health and Human Services declaration of a health emergency for teens and tweens, MCBC continued to promote its Buyers Guide to direct sales toward actual e-bikes and away from e-motorcycles. MCBC’s Safe Routes to Schools staff wrote newsletters, hosted parent education nights, and e-blasted school communities to urge legal e-bike purchases that would be age and ability-safe for children to ride. Communications such as the “E-bike FAQs” were sent to thousands of parents last fall.
Our Safe Routes to Schools staff adapted their in-school program to include e-bike safety and laws and taught these to thousands of students at 17 partnering middle and high schools. Safe Routes also played a pivotal role in guiding school administrators to implement a new e-bike parking policy that specifically excluded non-compliant Class 2 e-bikes (e-motos). This permit policy ensures that only legal e-bikes can park on school campuses. Many parents, unaware of the legal restrictions, have inadvertently purchased these devices, putting them at legal and financial risk in the event of a crash.
Safety is our #1 Concern
Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s overarching goal is keeping people safe. Alongside CalBike (our statewide partner), MCBC continues to advocate for increased education and regulation of e-motorcycles (e-motos) due to their negative impact on the reputation of legitimate e-bikes. Their removal is an essential first step in ensuring safer cycling environments and preserving the reputation of the cycling community.
Together, we can enjoy the fun and freedom on two wheels while prioritizing health and safety. Your support is invaluable in this journey. Thank you for being a part of our community.
Safe Routes to Schools is a program of the Transportation Authority of Marin. MCBC’s Education Director, Gwen Froh, is an advisor to the Marin County Youth E-bike Safety Task Force. This task force was established to address e-bike concerns with children and is a key player in the county’s efforts to promote e-bike safety. Gwen’s 20 years of experience teaching cycling to thousands of children will add valuable insight to a county-wide educational campaign due to launch in March.
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