For the past several years, Marin has been gripped by growing alarm over “e-bikes.” But let’s be clear: we do not have an e-bike problem. We have an e-moto problem.
True e-bikes reach maximum speeds of 20mph (or 28 mph for riders 16+) and are helping people replace car trips, reduce emissions, and get around safely. I personally replace at least 10 car trips a week on mine, freeing up space for people who have to drive and keeping the air clean while I’m at it.
What’s driving fear in our community are high-powered electric e-motos — capable of 30 to 50 mph — being fraudulently sold and mislabeled as e-bikes. These vehicles do not belong on bike paths or school routes. They are illegal at any age. Yet they are flooding our streets and campuses.
The confusion is being reinforced by erroneous data. The dashboard run by Marin Health and Human Services — now cited nationwide — does not distinguish between crashes that happened on legal e-bikes and illegal e-motos. Meanwhile, local counts show that 80–90% of electric vehicles on school campuses are actually e-motos, not e-bikes.
That’s not just misleading — it’s driving policy in the wrong direction.
In Sacramento, a wave of legislation is advancing that risks overregulating e-bikes while failing to address the real issue. If we continue down this path, we will undermine a climate-friendly, community-benefiting technology because of a problem it didn’t create.
There is a better approach. Senator Catherine Blakespear’s SB 1167 would crack down on high-powered electric motorcycles being deceptively marketed as e-bikes while bringing consumers and riders much-needed clarity.
We also need accountability: manufacturers must stop gaming the system, and parents need to understand what they are buying.
If we don’t draw a clear line now, we risk losing the benefits e-bikes bring to our communities.
Let’s solve the right problem.
Sincerely,
Tarrell Kullaway
Executive Director, Marin County Bicycle Coalition