E-bikes have quickly become part of daily life here in Orange County. They are outside of schools, on sidewalks, near parks, along beach paths and at busy intersections. For many young people, they offer freedom and convenience. But as their popularity grows, so does a serious question: are our safety rules keeping up?
Too often, e-bikes are operating machines that can move much faster than traditional bicycles, sometimes without fully understanding traffic laws, right-of-way, or the danger of speed around cars and pedestrians. E-bikes can be a positive form of transportation, but only if riders, parents, manufacturers and local officials take safety seriously.
That is why I created a petition for common-sense e-bike safety reforms in Orange County. The goal is not to eliminate e-bikes or punish responsible riders, but to make sure that riders understand the risks before they get on the road. My proposal focuses on five points: 16 year old age limit, with an exception. Class I, nonmodified e-bikes and the rider would have a good prior record on e-bikes. Additionally, mandatory speedometers, a county issued e-bike licenses, an $160 fine for illegal and unsafe riding and diverting those funds to a city-by-city held Youth E-Bike safety fund to invest in e-bike safety research and e-bike infrastructure improvements.
The first reform is to prohibit most e-bike use for riders under 16. This is not because young people are careless by nature, but because e-bikes can move at speeds that require judgement, experience and awareness of traffic laws. A rider who is not ready to manage those speeds can put themself and pedestrians at risk. My proposal would still allow under-16s who already have a clean riding record, but only on a Class-1 non-modified e-bike and only after passing an additional safety course to guarantee the total knowledge of the road. Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes should remain off limits for riders under 16.
The second reform is requiring all e-bike manufacturers to include speedometers. Riders cannot make safe decisions about speed if they do not know how fast they are going. Just as drivers are expected to monitor their speed, e-bike riders should have the same basic information available to them.
The third reform is creating a county-issued e-bike license, earned by passing a rules-on-the-road test. This would not mean to form unnecessary bureaucracy, but to make sure riders know the basics before operating an e-bike in public. Riders should understand stop signs, right-of-way, helmet expectations, sidewalk rules and how to safely share the road with cars, pedestrians and traditional cyclists. If e-bikes are going to be used as transportation, riders should be expected to understand the responsibilities that come with them.
The fourth reform is a $160 fine for illegal or unsafe e-bike riding that puts pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers at risk. Parents would be held responsible for such fines when the rider is under 18. This is not about punishing families for honest mistakes. It is about creating real accountability when unsafe riding puts others at risk. Parents often have the greatest influence over how young riders use e-bikes, and they should be encouraged to set clear expectations before an accident happens.
The fifth reform would direct money from said fines into a Youth E-Bike Safety Fund. Instead of treating fines as only punishment, this fund would support e-bike safety research, education courses, and infrastructure improvements that are intended to stop further accidents. The goal is to turn accountability into prevention.
The response to this campaign shows that many Orange County residents are ready for stronger e-bike safety rules. The petition (as linked) has already received 1,485 signatures, and the support I have seen during door-to-door sessions has been overwhelming. When I knock on doors and people answer, nearly 98% say they support the petition. That tells me this is not a fringe concern or minor complaint. Parents, pedestrians, drivers and neighbors are seeing the same problem: e-bikes can be useful, but the current rules are not enough to keep everyone safe. The growing support for this campaign shows that our community is ready for action before another preventable accident happens.
E-bikes are not going away, and they shouldn’t have to. They can be a convenient, enjoyable and environmentally friendly way to get around Orange County. But if we want e-bikes to remain a positive part of our community, safety has to come first. My petition is about prevention, learning and accountability. By setting reasonable age limits, requiring speed awareness, county licensing, enforcing meaningful consequences and investing in youth e-bike safety, we can protect riders and everyone who shares the road with them. I urge Orange County residents, parents and local leaders to support this petition and help make e-bikes a safer form of transportation for all.
Alex Guess is a 12-year-old student living in Laguna Niguel, California. He is currently leading a regional grassroots lobbying campaign to pass comprehensive youth e-bike safety legislation.
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