Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner Horvath. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)
Bill to Ban E-Bikes for Under Age 12 Gains Steam In The Assembly
Those above 12 would require special licenses if they have no drivers license
By Evan Symon, February 15, 2024 2:30 am
A bill to ban e-bike usage for Californians under the age of 12, and require a special e-bike license for those over 12 without a driver’s license, gained momentum in the Assembly this week from an increasing number of groups in favor of such a regulation.
Assembly Bill 2234, authored by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) would require the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to issue a skills waiver containing specific information, in an electronic format, to each person who completes the electric bicycle safety and training programs by June 2025. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature to create a diversion program, comprised of traffic safety training and community service, for a person who is cited for a traffic violation while operating an electric bicycle.
In addition, AB 2234 would prohibit a person under age 12 from operating an electric bicycle of any class. The bill would, commencing July 1, 2025, require a person who does not possess a valid driver’s license to have the skills waiver issued by the department and a valid state-issued identification card in their immediate possession when operating an electric bicycle of any class. This would require those not possessing a driver’s license to have to get a special e-bike license.
Assemblywoman Boerner wrote the bill because of a rise in e-bike injuries. Specifically, e-bike injuries to those under the age of 14 constitute over a third of all injuries using the bikes in the U.S., with the percentage rising each year. With an age limit and license need, Boerner hopes to reduce the number of youth injuries and deaths as a result, especially since e-bikes can go above 20 miles per hours in some cases.
“Owning and riding an e-bike is a big responsibility, and it is crucial that children and their parents understand the liability they take on when they get on an e-bike that can go nearly 30 miles per hour,” said Assemblywoman Boerner last week. “As an avid cyclist and a mother, my goal is to ensure that California’s young riders are educated on the rules of the road to increase their safety and the safety of other road users.”
However, the bill faces an uphill battle. A similar bill last year also authored by Boerner, AB 530, proved so unpopular that it didn’t even make it to a legislative committee. However, many safety groups said that, with a rising number of cases, many lawmakers could be persuaded to change their mind this year.
“The rising number of injuries and deaths amongst kids are the worrisome factor here,” explained e-bike safety advocate Angela Sosa to the Globe on Wednesday. “We are for pushing laws and regulations all over the U.S. This bill here in California is just the latest. We know its a cheaper method of transportation for many than a car, but they also go very fast and cause accidents. Regular bikes, they aren’t as fast and you have a better reaction time with them. A lot of safety groups will be backing this bill.
“In fact, that’s bow these e-bike bills are always sold. You get safety groups, doctors. Even neighborhood groups complaining about the noise caused by these get in on it. So this bill is getting some momentum. It just needs to be sold better, because that’s how these are passed. There was one ban where they pretty much said these are “My First Motorcycles” and it helped pass the ban.
“E-scooters are on a downswing now for multiple reasons, but one of them was safety concerns. And that needs to be applied here to succeed.”
As of Wednesday, no direct opposition has been mounted against the bill, but as it is due to be heard soon in the Assembly, it is expected to come out soon.
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Avid bicyclists may wish to stay in their own opinion lane, for now.
Stop whistling past the graveyard of adult scufflaws, who routinely operate manual two wheeled vehicles at the expense of law abiding motorists, like they’ll live forever!
No e bikes for kids but they can cut off body parts without parents permission and with state funding?
EXACTLY.
Democrat Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner has lived a privileged and pampered life in the upscale beach community of Encinitas which has been repeatedly sued over policies that aimed at undermining state affordable housing laws. She’s similar to like Democrat Sen. Catherine Blakespear who also lives on an six acre estate in Encinitas and recently authored a bill to ban plastic bags. These wealthy coastal Democrats are completely out of touch with the struggles of average Californians?
No kidding, TJ, they are COMPLETELY out of touch.
Sooooooo sick of it!
From para 5, “As an avid cyclist…” Now, look again at her photo. Why do I doubt that hurazz hasn’t seen a bicycle seat since — say — 4th Grade? Like Hillary carrying a bottle of hot sauce in her purse, “always.” Democrats are 100% shamless liars in all things.
As usual, this crap has nothing to do with safety. I took a quick look at some data (https://catsip.berkeley.edu/resources/crash-data/pedestrian-and-bicycle-crash-data-county). Two things jumped out at me. First, injuries and fatalities correlate pretty well with high traffic areas. Second, in some counties there were far more pedestrians injured or killed than bicyclists.
So what is this really about? Thanks to Democrat economic malfeasance, more and more people are finding that they just can’t afford the commute to work or school in their gas powered vehicles, and are going to e-bikes. A growing number of families are buying them for the kids as well. Just like electric cars (despite all their failings), this trend is cutting into gas tax revenues. The Left’s ‘solution’ is VMT (vehicle miles traveled) tax schemes, but to roll e-bikes into them, the bikes and the riders have to be identified, licensed, and then tracked – something that’s already well underway with other vehicles. Starting with the kids is a good camel’s nose under the tent strategy.
Ultimately, all of these shenanigans, from EV mandates and prohibiting new oil and gas leases to ever more tangled bicycle regulations, is about forcing us out of all forms of practical transportation, and turning our neighborhoods into “15 minute” cities. I find myself wondering just how much more of this nonsense Californians will tolerate.
I think you hit the nail on the head, John. This just doesn’t pass the smell test. It’s “Big Brother” once again. You know what, how about they just write a law that says all kids have to say home in a padded room until they turn 25? They can just beam their schooling to them via Zoom as they got so good at over the past 4 years and if the kid wants to trans themselves, they can send the butchers to their house to do the hacking and sawing.
It’s curious as to how Tasha Boerner was installed into Assembly District 77 running as a Democrat who ran on a campaign focusing exclusively on “climate change” considering that Assembly District 77 is ethnically diverse with political party preferences almost evenly divided between Republican, Democrat and independents? Maybe it was her plump chipmunk cheeks looking like she ate too many strudels that help install her into office?
https://thecoastnews.com/downey-challenges-boerner-horvath-bruce-lane-cutter-clash/