Assemblymember Boerner’s Bill on E-Bike Safety Signed by the Governor

SACRAMENTO, CA. — In an effort to prevent e-bike accidents for children, Assembly Bill (AB) 2234 by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. AB 2234 would establish an opt-in program for cities in the County of San Diego to prohibit children under 12 from riding a class 1 or 2 e-bike.

“E-bikes are an amazing way for our kids to get around, but they need to be at an age where they can ride defensively and correctly navigate through large streets, intersections, cars, and pedestrians. The data shows that kids on e-bikes under 12 have the greatest number of accidents and risk of severe injuries,” stated Assemblymember Boerner.

According to the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, there were 3,945 e-bike injuries between 2011 and 2020. The e-bike injuries increased over time during the study period, with the 10-13 year old age group making up 44% of those injuries.

“As a mother and someone who has worked on this issue area for several years, kids need to know the rules of the road and have the maturity to navigate their e-bike. The best way to keep our children safe is to keep them on a traditional bike until they are twelve,” said Assemblymember Boerner. “I want to thank the Governor for supporting AB 2234. We need to protect our kids when they are on the streets, and AB 2234 will do just that.”

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Assemblymember Tasha Boerner represents the 77th District, which encompasses Carlsbad, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Del Mar, Coronado and the coastal communities of La Jolla south to Downtown San Diego. You can learn more about Assemblymember Boerner at a77.asmdc.org, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter/X.