Below is an excerpt from an article on e-bikes and e-motos (electric motorcycles). This is of particular importance given the increased number of these e-motos and more powerful e-bikes in Encinitas Ranch.
PeopleForBikes, the national trade association for the U.S. bicycle industry, is backing SB 1167, a new bill introduced by Senator Catherine Blakespear (SD 38) that would draw a hard legal line between legitimate electric bicycles and the faster, more powerful e-motos that have been exploiting regulatory loopholes for years.
The result of that exploitation? A surge in crashes, injuries, and fatalities across California, many involving young, unlicensed riders on machines that have no business being classified as bicycles and ridden on public roads or local trails.
Unlike the recent bill enacted in New Jersey, SB 1167 is far less restrictive and actually addresses the issue at hand without condemning the popularity of e-bikes as an alternative mode of transportation.
What Is California SB 1167 and Why Does It Matter?
If you’ve ridden anywhere in California lately, you already know the problem. High-powered electric mopeds and motorcycles have been flooding bike lanes, multi-use paths, and trail systems, often ridden by teenagers without helmets, licenses, or training. California’s outdated vehicle code simply hasn’t kept pace with how fast this technology has evolved, and manufacturers have been taking full advantage of the vague definitions to market motor vehicles as bicycles. SB 1167 changes that. The bill modernizes California’s vehicle code by reclassifying these devices based on their actual speed and power—not how they’re marketed.
What SB 1167 Would Actually Do
Under the bill, any two or three-wheeled vehicle powered by an electric motor under 4 horsepower (3,000 watts) capable of reaching 30 mph would be redefined as a moped—a motor vehicle, not a bicycle. Motor-driven cycles with electric motors up to 3,750 watts fall under the same umbrella. Once classified as motor vehicles, these devices come with the full regulatory package:
- Registration and license plates are required
- M1 or M2 driver’s license to operate on public roads
- Compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)
- DOT-approved helmets are mandatory for riders and passengers
- Manufacturers and sellers are subject to motor vehicle commerce laws
- Required disclosures in all advertising – including online listings – that these are motor vehicles, not bicycles
That last point is significant. A lot of these devices are being sold through online marketplaces with zero transparency about what buyers are actually purchasing. SB 1167 closes that gap.
Why This Is Good News for E-Bikes
When the public can’t distinguish between a Class 1 e-bike and a 30 mph electric moped tearing through a shared path, trust erodes, and that erosion affects everyone in the industry. By clearly separating e-motos from commuter electric bicycles and eMTBs, SB 1167 preserves e-bikes as an accessible, affordable, and safe option for California commuters and recreational riders alike.
What Comes Next
Senator Blakespear will join industry leaders, safety advocates, and policymakers at the 2026 Bicycle Leadership Conference (BLC) in Dana Point, California, next month, where a dedicated session will examine how mislabeling and regulatory gaps are eroding public trust and shaping local policy decisions on e-bikes.
PeopleForBikes collaborated directly with Senator Blakespear’s office to help draft the legislation, alongside partners Calbike, SAFE, and Streets for All.
If California gets this right, it could set a precedent for how states across the country approach the growing e-moto problem—and give the legitimate e-bike market the regulatory clarity it desperately needs.