HomeMy WebLinkAboutPD Electric Bicycle Safety Regulations in San Rafael PPTYouth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
PRESENTATION TO SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL
August 18, 2025
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 2
Background
HOW WE GOT HERE
•Marin has long supported, celebrated active transportation•However, growing popularity of e-bikes among school-aged
youth in Marin has raised serious safety concerns
o 2019-2022: Marin’s 911 calls for youth on bikes 110%
o 2023-present: New data shows 10-15 year olds have a 5x
higher accident rate than all other age groups•Marin ERs: e-bike injuries in youth more akin to serious motorcycle
injuries (internal bleeding, fractures, organ damage, brain trauma)
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 3
Public Health E-Bike Safety Dashboard
MARINHHS.ORG/BICYCLE-SAFETY
Youth have 1.5x higher accident rate
Accident rate by age group
10-15 16-39 40-59 60+
Youth have 5x higher accident rate
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 4
Types of E-bikes in California
•Class 1: Pedal-assist only (no throttle), max. assisted speed 20mph•Class 2: Have throttle (no pedaling required), max. assisted speed
20mph•Class 3*: Pedal-assist only (no throttle), max. assisted speed 28mph
*State law already requires Class 3 riders to be over 16 and
helmets for all ages
Local action to improve youth safety
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 6
Advocacy and countywide coordination
•Federal advocacy with Consumer Product Safety Commission•State advocacy on e-bikes State Legislature (AB 1778)•2024 Civil Grand Jury report: With Power Comes Responsibility -
Youths Under Age 16 Operating Class 2 E-Bikes: A Safety Risk•Convened new Special Committee on Youth E-Bike Safety to:
o Implement a countywide public education campaign
o Consider countywide AB 1778 adoptions, enforcement•Informational updates to Transportation Authority of Marin Board
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 7
Assembly Bill 1778 (Connolly, 2024)
ALLOWS MARIN JURISDICTIONS TO PASS LOCAL ORDINANCES TO…
Current state law With AB 1778 ordinance
Age
limits
No age limit for Class 1 e-bikes Same
No age limit for Class 2 e-bikes Class 2 e-bikes limited to 16+
Class 3 e-bikes limited to 16+Same
Helmets All e-bike riders <18 required to wear helmets Same
Class 1 e-bike riders >18 not required to wear helmet Same
Class 2 e-bike riders >18 not required to wear helmet Class 2 e-bike riders of all ages
required to wear helmets
Class 3 e-bike riders of all ages required to wear helmets Same
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 8
Countywide Coordination
AB 1778 IS ONE COMPONENT TO MARIN-WIDE STRATEGY
•Wide-reaching representation on Special Committee•Presentations to Safe Routes to Schools, TAM, Cities/towns, Marin
Police Chiefs, Parks Commission (application to multi-use paths)•Support to Cities/Towns in ordinance adoption, attending City
Council meetings•Development, coordination of Public Education Campaign:
E-Bikers Club
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 9
Public Education Campaign: E-Bikers Club
LAUNCHED SPRING 2025
•Target audience = Marin teens and parents•Local firm Chrome Panther selected. Key messaging:
o Young riders on pedal-assist (not throttle) e-bikes (AB 1778)
o Maintenance needs for e-bikes to keep in safe, working order
o Safe riding: helmets, no tandem riding, following traffic laws•‘E-Bikers Club’ campaign was launched late May
o Fulfills AB 1778’s public education requirement for all cities
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 10
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 11
Timeline of key actions
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
Slide 12
Measuring success of our efforts
•Ordinance adoption across all 11 Marin Cities + Towns•Impact and reach of E-Bikers Club Public Safety Campaign
o Clarity of safety campaign messages, improved teen/parent
education•Decreasing the e-bike accident rate among 10-15 year olds
o Monitoring e-bike injuries by Class 1, 2 or 3
Youth E-Bike Safety in Marin & AB 1778
San Rafael City Council
August 18, 2025
www.e-bikersclub.com
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