E-Bike Safety and Guidance

The City recommends that youth under 18 years old do not ride e-bikes and other electric motorized devices. Do Not Purchase Motorized Devices for Minors.

Supporting community safety, the City is working with the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) to boost community awareness and enforcement efforts. PAUSD is implementing rules for regulating e-bike use by students on their campuses to address safety concerns. 

Riding an e-bike is an innovative way for adults to stay active and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and they are rising in popularity due to their many benefits. As a result of increased use, the State of California passed a range of new laws, including restrictions for youth under 16 and clear distinctions between e-bikes and illegal e-motos.

Regarding illegal e-motos and e-bikes, Palo Alto Police are partnering with local high schools and inspect devices that are being brought to school/parked in the bike cages and tagging them to let them know that they're not lawful on the roadway and intercept those as they're leaving campus.

Report Unsafe e-Bike Use 

Help keep our community safe by calling 9-1-1 in an emergency, reporting e-bike e-scooter riding concerns on Palo Alto 311 for non-emergency issues or calling the non-emergency dispatch line at (650) 329-2413.

Conventional Bicycles

Pedal Power is Your Superpower!

The City recommends that youth under 18 years old use conventional bicycles to get around.

Traffic laws for conventional bicycles also apply to e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters.

Conventional Bicycles are a great way for students to build confidence, strength, and independence so they can get around town on their own. Always ride with:

  • A helmet
  • A good lock
  • Lights and reflectors

Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers.

E-Bikes for Adults Only

The City recommends that youth under 18 years old do not ride e-bikes and other electric motorized devices. Traffic laws for conventional bicycles also apply to e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters.

There are 3 types of e-bikes.

Class 1 E-Bikes

  • Will be banned on PAUSD campuses starting Fall 2027

Class 2 E-Bikes

  • Banned on PAUSD campuses starting Fall 2026

Class 3 E-Bikes

  • Banned on PAUSD campuses starting Fall 2026
  • All riders must wear a helmet, regardless of age
  • State law makes these illegal for people under 16 years of age and on trails
  • State law makes it illegal to transport passengers on a Class 3 e-bike

E-Scooters

  • State law makes it illegal to drive these above 15 mph or on sidewalks unless you're entering or exiting an adjacent property
  • Riders must be at least 16 years of age and hold a driver’s license
  • Riders must use the available bike lane

E-Motos are Illegal

E-motos are illegal and cannot be used on streets, trails, highways, sidewalks, bike paths, bike lanes, off-street parking facilities or on PAUSD campuses in Palo Alto.

Traffic laws for conventional bicycles also apply to e-bikes, e-motos and e-scooters.

E-motos have:

  • 750 watts of power or greater
  • Foot pegs, not pedals

Any e-bike that has been modified to exceed authorized speed capabilities is reclassified as an e-moto. 

Legal Resources for Californians

California law states that helmets are required for all riders under 18. The City of Palo Alto recommends that all riders wear a helmet, regardless of age and device.

For more information on how e-bikes and e-motos are regulated, check out these resources from the State of California:

50% of Palo Alto's Students Commute by Bicycle to School

Palo Alto is home to one of the nation’s leading Safe Routes to School programs. An impressive average of 50% of Palo Alto's public high school students commute to school on bicycle in part due to the past efforts to provide bicycle-friendly infrastructure and supportive programming within the community. Resources are available to help teach student bicycle and pedestrian safety while traveling to school.

Traditional bicycles provide K-12 students with the foundation needed to develop essential bicycle operating skills into adulthood. Regardless of classification, heavier, faster motorized bicycles that operate at car-like speeds pose serious safety risks in a community like Palo Alto, where an average of 48 percent, or 2,678 secondary students, bike to school each day.

  1. Developing depth perception, peripheral vision, hand-eye coordination and the ability to assess risk challenges minors to master on-road bicycle safety skills on traditional bikes.[2][3][4][5]
  2. The American Academy of Pediatrics likens electric and motorized bicycles to motorcycles more than traditional bicycles. Like motorcycles, operation requires an advanced set of bike-handling skills, ideally delivered through multiple on-bike classes taught by experienced adult riders.
  3. The changing landscape of electric and motorized bicycle rules and regulations complicates efforts to develop accurate and widely applicable cycling safety information. 
  4. Most traditional bicycle helmets are designed for speeds well below legal e-bike speed limits.[6]
  5. Most electric and motorized e-bicycle and e-motorcycle websites emphasize fun, recreation and the thrill of high speeds over safe, responsible vehicle operation and informed purchasing decisions.[7]
  6. Resident-initiated e-bike and e-motorcycle concerns about youth-involved reckless riding re-direct limited law enforcement resources away from other critical community safety priorities. 
  7. Reckless motorized bicycle operation reduces community support for bicycle programs and projects.  
  8. Apps modifying the speed of an electric or motorized bicycle can make it difficult to determine the class of an E-bike or E-motorcycle by sight alone leading to limited or selective enforcement.
  9. Lithium-ion battery damage can become a fire and explosion hazard if children are unable to assess damage or manufacturing defects.
  10. E-bike generated waste stems primarily from lithium-ion batteries and discarded low-quality components. Improper disposal of dead batteries and unstandardized, hard-to-repair bike parts are creating a growing e-waste crisis.[8]

In California youth under the age of 16 may not legally operate an electric scooter in the public right-of-way without a valid driver's license or learner's permit. E-motos (motorized bicycles with speeds exceeding 20 mph for youth and 28 mph for adults) are also prohibited from operating in the public right-of-way. For more information about the Safe Routes to School Partnership Advisory Statement on Electric and Motorized Bicycle and Scooter Safety, please contact saferoutes@paloalto.gov.

[1] This statement is a companion to a City of Palo Alto-drafted ‘E-bike Laws, Classifications and Informational Resources’ document currently under development.

[3] Gardner & Steinberg (2005): adolescents take more risks than adults in simulated driving tasks

[6] E-bike specific helmets rated for higher speeds support safe, responsible e-bike operation but may be cost or access prohibitive.

Resources for Bicycling and Walking

Bicycling and walking are great ways to stay active, enjoy our beautiful community and de-stress by getting your recommended 60–150 minutes of daily physical activity. Check out our Bicycling & Walking webpage to learn more or get involved.

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Transportation Connect is a digital newsletter connecting the community to transportation news, updates, ways to share input & more. This quarterly newsletter from the Office of Transportation shares resources and information for everyone to bicycle, walk and get around the City safely.

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