Why the Bill Matters

AB 2346 is aimed at the growing use of e-bikes and concerns about speed, illegal modifications, and serious injuries. But can AB 2346 make e-bikes safer for students to ride to school? 

In 2022, 1.1 million e-bikes were imported into the U.S., with sales expected to exceed 6.4 million units by 2025. Even modest usage can decrease an individual’s transportation emissions by 67%.[i] However, e-bike riders are hospitalized at a slightly higher rate than regular bike riders.[ii] And e-bike related injuries have also increased: Between 2019 and 2023, a UC San Diego study found that injuries and fractures to e-bike riders under the age of 18 increased by 300%[iii], while a San Jose State University related study found that older adults are more likely to suffer serious medical consequences from e-bike crashes and had higher rates of hospitalization and head injuries.[iv] News media such as the NY Times and the San Francisco Chronicle have linked e-bike injuries to excessive speeds far beyond legal limits.[v]

Under current law, e-bikes are classified into three categories: 

• Class 1: pedal-assist only, up to 20 mph.

• Class 2: pedal/throttle-assist, up to 20 mph.

• Class 3: pedal-assist only, up to 28 mph.

What AB 2346 Does

Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson, AB 2346 defines an e-bike as a bicycle with fully operational pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power. AB 2346 allows local governments to establish 15- or 20-mph limits on bicycle paths and multiuse trails, and 10-mph limits in certain high-pedestrian or limited-visibility areas. It also establishes a 10-mph statewide speed limit on sidewalks. AB 2346 does not impose a statewide minimum age for Class 1 or 2 e-bikes, but requires that riders be 16 or older to ride Class 3 e-bikes. 

Beginning on January 1, 2027, manufacturers and distributors of e-bikes must apply a permanent label that specifies the e-bike class, top-assisted speed, and motor wattage. Sellers must disclose an e-bike’s minimum age, helmet rules, and California e-bike laws, and must recommend that riders under 16 not exceed 15 mph. Sellers and distributors of e-bikes must also provide a disclosure that it is illegal to modify an e-bike to go faster than permitted by law and that modifications may require that the e-bike be registered with the DMV and be insured. Violations of the new labeling and disclosure requirements are infractions that can result in increasing fines from $500 to $1,000 for each infraction. Beginning January 1, 2029, Class 2 e-bikes must have speedometers, and e-bikes sold in California must include qualifying front and rear lights. Existing law already requires Class 3 e-bikes to have speedometers.

Related E-Bike Legislation

AB 2346 is part of a broader e-bike safety push. AB 1569 (Davies) would create standardized safety training for students in grades 7-12, while AB 875 (Muratsuchi, 2025) permits police to impound certain overpowered bikes and Class 3 e-bikes ridden by those under 16. By contrast, AB 2234 (Boerner, 2024) and AB 1778 (Connolly, 2024) created local age-restriction pilot programs in San Diego and Marin Counties.

Support and Opposition to AB 2346 

Supporters say clearer rules, safety equipment, and consumer education can reduce injuries while preserving e-bikes as affordable transportation. Opponents argue that enforcement should focus more directly on illegally modified or overpowered devices.

How Schools Are Responding

Some districts are already acting. Newport-Mesa Unified prohibits e-bikes and e-motos on district property for TK-8 students; high school students may bring lawful e-bikes if they complete safety training, wear helmets, park in designated areas, and do not ride on campus. Rocklin Unified has developed a Safe Routes to School framework emphasizing student safety and coordination with local transportation and public-safety agencies. AB 2346 leaves districts to decide what additional campus rules make sense.