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Electric bicycles are becoming a popular mode of transportation for many, including teens and children, but some don’t receive the necessary education associated with road laws and safety. Local towns such as Woodside are looking into how they can adjust to the growth in e-bike riderships and address safety concerns from the community.
“Parents are buying these bikes and they’re just unaware of the laws and the dangers associated,” said San Mateo County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Neumann at the council meeting.
During a Town Council meeting on July 8, Woodside council members held a study session to evaluate community concerns about the increase in e-bikes and particularly the spike in ridership by teens and school-aged children. Woodside Elementary School held an e-bike safety workshop in June in collaboration with the San Mateo County Office of Education’s Safe Routes to School Program.
E-bike laws and classifications
The California Vehicle Code defines an e-bike as “a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power.” E-bike riders do not require a license.
The bicycles are classified in three categories. Class 1 bikes are low-speed pedal-assisted e-bikes that are not capable of traveling over 20 mph. Class 2 are pedal or throttle-assisted bikes that can travel up to 20 mph without pedaling. Class 3 bikes are restricted to ages 16 and older, equipped with a speedometer and can travel up to 28 mph.
“The biggest thing right now has been education and educating schools because a lot of the issues are with parents buying the bikes and the law is actually still trying to catch up,” said Capt. Frank Dal Porto with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
A lot of the laws that are being enforced are based on outdated motorcycle laws from the 1960s and ’70s when mopeds were popular, he said. The community policing unit is currently developing a curriculum to present to local schools, Dal Porto added.
Woodside does not have any laws that enforce speed limits on e-bikes and only prohibit bicycles on trails marked for pedestrians and equestrians.
Neumann explained that when he is on patrol and sees an e-bike, he looks out for the speed, the age of the rider and whether they are driving safely. Additionally, he pays attention to whether the e-bike has pedals. If not, that is a signal that the vehicle is not legal to ride on the road and therefore would be stopped.
Councilmember Jenn Wall noted that she frequently observes kids in Woodside riding no pedal throttle-assisted bikes around town. Neumann said he has yet to see one of these bikes.
“If it does become an issue, we will do enforcement. This is an issue that we want to get ahead of and I think it starts with education,” said Dal Porto.
As e-bike ridership continues to increase, Wall questioned whether the town’s current bike lanes are equipped to accommodate the growth in riders but also whether the town is prepared for the coexistence between e-bikes and bicycles.
Public Works Engineer Yazdan Emrani said he has not observed congestion issues on existing bike lanes. In some areas of town, Emrani questioned whether the narrow roads would not allow for adding bike lanes. If the town wanted to accommodate additional bike traffic, it would require widening roads, he added. This would require a bicycle master plan and studies that look into the feasibility of the roads.
Trail, bike and fire safety concerns
Woodside residents stepped up to the mic to voice their concerns about trail safety, potential fire hazards of e-bikes on trails and whether the town should increase enforcement around e-bike laws.
“The increase in the number of electric bicycles being on the trail is a big concern,” said Maggie Mah, a member of the Trails Committee. “The interaction between any slower-moving object and a faster-moving object is never good and it’s really not good when it’s a horse.”
Vice Chair of the Circulation Committee Kim Hansen suggested that trails have signage to signal what user groups are allowed on the path to provide clearer information to the public. She also encouraged enforcement and education for the community and an ordinance that restricts the usage of motorized vehicles on trails.
“Just like a moped that crashes with gasoline spilling can catch on fire, a damaged lithium ion battery can catch fire on an e-bike, ” said David Mittleman, architectural and site review board member. “I don’t think anything with a battery should be on a trail.”
Woodside resident Steve Lubin said some e-bikes are comparable to unlicensed motorcycles that use thousands of watts of power and can travel beyond the legal e-bike speed limit. “750 watts is already at a level that’s beyond what bicyclists are going to be going ,” Lubin said.
“It’s really important to try to do some kind of enforcement or education or some way to say these things that are really motorcycles and shouldn’t be using bicycle facilities and shouldn’t be treated like bicycles.,” he added.
With concerns around e-bike speed, Circulation Committee Chair Ehsan Farkhondeh encouraged the town to establish a 15 mph speed limit on all vehicles operated off the paved roadway.
Wall called for the Circulation Committee and town staff to look into whether speed limits for e-bikes and regular bicycles is warranted as well as how this might be incorporated into the Town Center Area Plan.
Council member Hassan Aburish supported the idea of providing education at the elementary and high school levels while also increasing awareness for parents. Wall suggested partnering with the local school district to offer an education program.
In terms of enforcement efforts, Wall and Council member Goeld agreed that increased signage on trails noting that bikes are prohibited would be effective. They suggested signs that inform people that trails are for equestrian or pedestrian use.
Mayor Bryan Dombkowski agreed with his fellow council members that education and signage is key. He pushed for the town to explore ways to promote awareness on e-bike safety and for town staff to move forward with given direction.
