E-Bike Resources

Information about electric bikes, e-bike regulation, and e-bike safety.

e-bike

E-Bike Purchase Incentives FAQs

California’s E-Bike Purchase Incentive Project is distributing vouchers in a series of application windows. The first opportunity to apply was December 18, 2024. All 1,500 vouchers available in this window have been reserved. We will post upcoming application windows here and on our e-bike campaign page. Pedal Ahead, the administrator CARB chose for this program, […]

CalBike succeeds in passing e-bike voucher bill in Senate

California’s E-Bike Incentives Are Finally Here

This post was originally published 12/11/24 and updated 12/16/24. The California Air Resources Board announced that its much-delayed E-Bike Incentive Project would open for applications on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at 6:00 pm PT. CARB won’t release all $31 million in vouchers on that date; it still plans to do a phased program, releasing a […]

How to Fight E-Bike Backlash

In a state where 4,000 people die annually and many more are injured due to traffic violence, some California cities are freaking out because teenagers on e-bikes…did a wheelie? The ultra-conservative enclave of Huntington Beach enacted a draconian law last year that allows police to impound bicycles of youth found to have violated its (probably […]

Yuba e-bike

What Is an E-Bike? A Guide to California E-Bike Classifications.

Note: This information was compiled in August of 2023 and updated in June 2024. California laws and regulations are subject to change. Please consult the California Vehicle Code (CVC) sections governing e-bikes for the most up-to-date information. Some of the recent furor over the increased presence of e-bikes on California streets has centered on mobility […]

New E-Bike Training Resources Come Online

Over the past few months, government and nonprofit groups have published three online e-bike riding resources. We’ve reviewed them all so we can give you an overview. Three e-bike courses The training resources were created by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), PeopleForBikes (with the League of American Bicyclists and Bicycle Colorado), and the California Air […]

e-bike

Why You Should Support E-Bikes, Even if You Don’t Ride One

E-bikes have grown in popularity over the past few years and are now the top-selling electric vehicle in the US. Along with their increased presence on California streets has come a backlash. While some of the ire has come from people driving cars who don’t want to share “their” streets with any kind of bike […]

speeding car

Speed Kills: Addressing the Real Road Hazard

Cities throughout California have taken steps to regulate e-bikes based on the belief that increased e-bike use is leading to collisions and dangerous conditions. These efforts ignore the real road hazard: speeding motor vehicle drivers.  Reducing speeds on city streets is the best way to protect people biking and walking, especially those most vulnerable. A […]

e-bike battery

Preventing E-Bike Battery Fires

This post was updated to correct some technical information. Thank you to PeopleForBikes for providing additional information about lithium batteries and safety certifications. E-bikes aren’t inherently dangerous on the road and may even be safer in some situations if the electric boost allows a rider to escape a dangerous traffic situation. Much of the current […]

e-bikes deserve rebates

The Case Against E-Bike Licensing

Amid rising safety concerns, particularly in Southern California, proposals to add more restrictions to who can ride an e-bike and to require e-bike riders to have a license have gained steam. In 2024, the legislature will consider a bill to do just that. And the Huntington Beach City Council has announced its intention to develop […]

Media Guide: How to Report on Collisions Involving E-bikes  

“Teens Are Dying on E-Bikes. Should California Regulate Them?” This recent New York Times headline exemplifies a disturbing trend in reporting on e-bike safety. Headlines like this imply that e-bikes are lethal (not motor vehicle drivers colliding with people on e-bikes) and perpetuate the dehumanization of people who ride bikes and make invisible the role […]

E-Bike Incentive Programs

Compiled by Climate Action Center