E-Bike Safety and Guidance
The City recommends that youth under 18 years old do not ride e-bikes or 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 around e-bike laws. As of 2026, PAUSD is setting rules to keep students' e-bike use in check on their campuses.
Riding an e-bike is an innovative way for adults to stay active and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and they're 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-bikes and e-motos, Palo Alto Police is partnering with local high schools to 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 them 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 or 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, e-scooters and other e-devices.
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 or other electric motorized devices.
Traffic laws for conventional bicycles also apply to e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters and other e-devices.
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-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, e-scooters and other e-devices.
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.
E-Scooters and E-Devices
The City recommends that youth under 18 years old do not ride electric motorized devices and urges that all riders wear a helmet.
Traffic laws for conventional bicycles also apply to e-bikes, e-motos, e-scooters and other e-devices.
E-Scooters
- Riders must be at least 16 years of age and hold a driver’s license
- It is illegal to drive these above 15 mph on public roads, bike paths and trails
- You must ride inside a designated bike lane or shoulder on roads posted at 35 mph. You cannot ride in the main vehicular traffic lane
- You can ride in the regular traffic lane if there is no bike lane available on roads posted at 25 mph or less
- It is illegal to drive these on sidewalks unless you're entering or exiting an adjacent property. It is illegal to park an e-scooter on a sidewalk in a way that disrupts pedestrian traffic
- Night riding requires a front white light (visible from 300 feet) and a rear reflector/light (visible from 500 feet)
E-Skateboards, One-Wheels, Hoverboards and E-Unicycles
- Riders must be at least 16 years of age
- It is illegal to drive these above 15 mph on public roads, bike paths and trails
- Allowed on public bicycle paths, highways, bikeways, trails and sidewalks. You can ride in the regular traffic lane if there is no bike lane available on roads posted at 25 mph or less
- You must ride inside a designated bike lane or shoulder on roads posted at 35 mph. You cannot ride in the main vehicular traffic lane
- Night riding requires a white or yellow reflector on each side of your person and board (visible from 200 feet). You must have a front white light (visible from 300 feet) and a rear reflector/light (visible from 500 feet)
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 or device.
For more information on how e-bikes and e-motos are regulated, check out these resources from the State of California:
48% of Palo Alto's Secondary 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 48 percent of Palo Alto's public middle and 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 students 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The changing landscape of electric and motorized bicycle rules and regulations complicates efforts to develop accurate and widely applicable cycling safety information.
- Most traditional bicycle helmets are designed for speeds well below legal e-bike speed limits.
- Most e-bicycle and e-moto websites emphasize fun, recreation and the thrill of high speeds over safe, responsible vehicle operation and informed purchasing decisions.
- Resident-initiated e-bike and e-moto concerns about youth-involved reckless riding re-direct limited law enforcement resources away from other critical community safety priorities.
- Reckless motorized bicycle operation reduces community support for bicycle programs and projects.
- Apps modifying the speed of an electric or motorized bicycle can make it difficult to determine its class by sight alone.
- Lithium-ion battery damage can become a fire and explosion hazard.
- 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.
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.
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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