California Just Banned ALL my eBikes from their Biking Trails- New Law Explained
- Thread starter Hozer
- Start date
ElectricRideBlog
New member
This is such a bummer for California riders! I can’t believe how strict the new regulations are. It feels like they’re missing the bigger picture—ebikes are such a great way to get more people outdoors and reduce car dependency. Hopefully, there’s some room for compromise in the future.
Tuckerfan
New member
I ain't watching a nearly 40-minute video, anybody want to give me the deets?
DoofusOfThe Day
New member
If I googled correctly it looks like no bikes without functional pedals, nothing greater than 750w motor, and nothing modified to go greater than 20mph. Doesn't affect me or any of the e-bike riders I have encountered, but I am just your run of the mill bike rider for exercise, not a commuter or thrill seeker.
I'd want to see it published in the government website before I started to panic.
Here's a state of CA website that does not support what is summarized above:
www.dmv.ca.gov
CA riders should print a copy of that and pack it on your eBike. If you get caught, (hopefully not riding like a jerk) just show that to the cop and tell him you thought you were in compliance.
If what the video says is true, they've outlawed Class 3 and they've fully adopted the US eBike definition of Class 1 & 2.
I can't say I agree with outlawing Class 3, but I agree with the rest. We can't have people with poor judgment riding 100+ lb. eBikes on multi-use paths that were designed with muggle bikes and pedestrians in mind. Best you can do then is turn the limit back on to Class 2 limit or ride above and hope you're not caught. Police are generally stretched too thin to enforce a law like this just by the letter. You also have to be doing something else wrong to get them to bother.
What may happen soon is that eBike manufacturers will start making them available to be registered as a moped or "motor-driven cycle", as CA calls them. They'd have to be treated like motorcycles then: registered & plated, insured, wear a DOT motorcycle helmet, etc.
Here's a state of CA website that does not support what is summarized above:
License Requirements - California DMV
California issues the following DL classes for two-wheel vehicle operation: Class M1-You may operate any two-wheel motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized scooter and all vehicles listed under Class M2. The permit and DL requirements in this handbook pertain to two-wheel vehicles and are...
www.dmv.ca.gov
CA riders should print a copy of that and pack it on your eBike. If you get caught, (hopefully not riding like a jerk) just show that to the cop and tell him you thought you were in compliance.
If what the video says is true, they've outlawed Class 3 and they've fully adopted the US eBike definition of Class 1 & 2.
I can't say I agree with outlawing Class 3, but I agree with the rest. We can't have people with poor judgment riding 100+ lb. eBikes on multi-use paths that were designed with muggle bikes and pedestrians in mind. Best you can do then is turn the limit back on to Class 2 limit or ride above and hope you're not caught. Police are generally stretched too thin to enforce a law like this just by the letter. You also have to be doing something else wrong to get them to bother.
What may happen soon is that eBike manufacturers will start making them available to be registered as a moped or "motor-driven cycle", as CA calls them. They'd have to be treated like motorcycles then: registered & plated, insured, wear a DOT motorcycle helmet, etc.
Me and the missus have such bikes, except they can go to 28 m/h. But they are bikes, with pedals, bells, racks, bags, etc. Next time out there, we'll ride trails courteously (and not close to 20+ m/h) , and will not have any problems.
Bad apples, videoing themselves for attention. No 45/47 fan, but he did extend e bike access in national parks. 46 took it away, and I can see why. Bozos seeking thrills and attention at the expense of those wanting some quiet nature time. Something about bla bla bla-- nice things....
In michigan, yesterday was a beautiful day and I was out riding. I entered an unpaved Trail that allowed class 1 ebikes only. My question for anybody to answer is if any bike is a class 1, class 2, or class 3, depending on how you have it set up, is it still considered a Class 1 ebike if I have it set up for class 1 riding, even though it is capable of setting up for class 2 or class 3?
JerryB
Well-known member
Years ago.....I was hiking a trail in California and a woman on a bike passed me by.......I yelled "COW" and she flipped me off.....then she ran straight into a cow......go figure.
California is a great place to be from.
California is a great place to be from.
How do you set up a C2/3 bike for C1? Not rhetorical. There might be a way to do so and to certify that it had been done.
But if we wanted to ride our C2's on that trail, we would. Our C2's have no C2 signage that I can see, or signage that we are 750 watts. And our throttles unplug, so we could disable them and tape up the connections, so if we got popped we could credibly claim that we were throttle free for that trail. We can go 28, but only in the top 1-2 assist levels. So, if pulled over, we would tell the laws that we were limiting ourselves. But mostly, our bikes LOOK like bikes, and we would ride them very courteously and with consideration for hikers, pets, etc. I'm guessing that the worst we would suffer is to be told to get off at the next exit.
We know what they don't like. Wheelies. Loud gangs. Stunts. Discourtesy. Going off trail. Like that. Doing that stuff got us where we are now...
I can disconnect (unplug) the throttle if I want, and program the bike to only go 20 miles per hour max. I don't know if this legally qualifies for a Class 1 bike or not, but I do have that capability. I was out on a trail yesterday that only allowed class 1 he bikes, and I went onto it as a class 2/3. In other words, I didn't disconnect the throttle and have it programmed to go 28 mile an hour pedal assist. I guess the issue with that is if you ever had a legal incident and your bike did not conform, I suppose you could get into legal trouble.
Attachments
Battery Powered
Well-known member
Same situation, we have some rides planned in California so I will disconnect the throttle cable. Ours also have a class 3 sticker on them , Looking for a class 2 sticker to put over it, any suggestions on where to get one. The motors are 500 w.
Glenn Goodlett
New member
Ebay has stickers widely available.
any name you wish
Member
I'm pretty sure that to be classified as a class one you need to disable the throttle at the very least and maybe even remove it.
Battery Powered
Well-known member
Removing the throttle is great idea, I'll do that when we travel through California this spring.
All they are doing is enforcing the original 2003 CPSA definition of an ebike.
"Section 38 defines a low-speed e-bike as a “two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1h. p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.” 15 U.S.C."
California has changed because many production ebikes sold today are actually electric motorcycles, not ebikes, at least not by the 12 Feb 2003 CPSA definition of ebike. Too many people are selling/riding e-motorcycles on pedestrian infrastructure and trails built for bicycles. I have had to disconnect my throttle many dozens of times when riding in national parks and military installations across America because they have always used the 2003 definition. Less than 1 h.p., a throttle you can disconnect, and you can still ride an ebike anywhere in America where bicycles are allowed.
"Section 38 defines a low-speed e-bike as a “two or three-wheeled vehicle with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts (1h. p.), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph.” 15 U.S.C."
California has changed because many production ebikes sold today are actually electric motorcycles, not ebikes, at least not by the 12 Feb 2003 CPSA definition of ebike. Too many people are selling/riding e-motorcycles on pedestrian infrastructure and trails built for bicycles. I have had to disconnect my throttle many dozens of times when riding in national parks and military installations across America because they have always used the 2003 definition. Less than 1 h.p., a throttle you can disconnect, and you can still ride an ebike anywhere in America where bicycles are allowed.
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So, if ebike rider rides like a moron and draws attention to themselves then they get pulled over and ebike confiscated .. more or less.
BiggKidd
Well-known member
Amazon and other places have them in spades.
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BiggKidd
Well-known member
Put a tag from your state of origin on your bike that matches your DL and tell the cops to take a hike. If you're from out of state there isn't a lot they can do..... Especially if you're on a bike tour and riding respectably!
