The City of San Diego is launching a public education and outreach campaign on e-bike safety ahead of new regulations for kids. City Councilmember Raul Campillo was joined this morning by the San Diego Police Department (SDPD), the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Police Department, and local Girl Scout Troop 4343 outside Montgomery Middle School to announce the outreach effort.

Recently approved e-bike regulations impose a minimum age of 12 years for Class One and Two e-bikes, essentially making a pedal bike the only bike approved for kids under 12. Class Three e-bikes already require individuals to be 16 years or older to operate under state law.

“It’s no secret that e-bike safety has become a growing concern in neighborhoods across our city – young kids doing wheelies on busy streets have demanded our action,” said City Councilmember Raul Campillo. “These regulations were carefully crafted to promote education-first enforcement, allowing us to put children’s safety first while ensuring older youth still have access to safe, affordable transportation options.”

Approved by the City Council in June, the e-bike regulations go into effect on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. The regulations establish a 60-day warning and education period before citations are issued, meaning that citations may be issued starting Oct. 12, 2026.

“Our goal is to keep our kids safe and out of the hospital,” said San Diego Police Commander Ben Kelso. “Local law enforcement and hospitals are seeing a rise in serious e-bike injuries, and this new ordinance establishes clear rules to protect our community. If your child is under 12, the only bike appropriate for them is a traditional pedal bike. We ask all parents to know what they are buying, ensure kids know the rules of the road and are wearing their helmets, and join us in keeping our streets safe.”

The regulations also provide the option for cited individuals to complete an online e-bike safety course within 120 days in lieu of a $25 fine to increase safety for children and reduce reckless riding. Parents or guardians would share liability for any citations.

“The safety of our students is the highest priority of the San Diego Unified School District Police Department. We support this effort to improve e-bike safety,” said SDUSD Assistant Police Chief Manny Del Toro. “As the school year begins on August 10th, school police will be monitoring adherence to this new ordinance as students travel to and from school. Together we can make sure our students have a great and safe school year free from dangerous e-bike activity. We ask our district parents help us make sure our students follow these new rules and importantly, for the community to be aware of the start of the school year and the increased pedestrian and bicycle traffic around our schools.”

The e-bike regulations will increase safety for children and reduce reckless riding by:

• Imposing an age minimum of 12 years for class one and two e-bikes.

• Reinforcing helmet requirements and passenger restrictions (passengers are only allowed if the e-bike is specifically designed to accommodate multiple riders with a permanent second seat).

• Providing the option for cited individuals to complete an online e-bike safety course in lieu of a $25 fine.

• Establish a 60-day warning period before citations are issued.

“Student wellness doesn’t begin when children walk through the school gates – it starts the moment they leave home,” said SDUSD Board Trustee Shana Hazan. “As a longtime advocate for Safe Routes to School, I know that creating safe communities for children requires strong partnerships, education, and prevention. I appreciate Councilmember Campillo’s leadership in advancing an education-first approach that will help families understand the rules, encourage responsible riding, and prevent serious injuries so every child can safely learn, play, and thrive.”

The regulations were made possible at the state level through Assembly Bill 2234 (AB 2234), also known as the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, which was authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner.

“The 2026-2027 school year is around the corner, and some of our students rely on e-bikes to get to and from school. E-bikes are a great mode of sustainable transportation, but they can be quite dangerous to maneuver when students are navigating unsafe situations without knowing the rules of the road,” said Assemblymember Tasha Boerner. “AB 2234 ensures that children under 12 do not ride class one and two e-bikes to protect them from potential dangers on the road, and I am proud to see cities across the County of San Diego approving local measures with the intention of protecting our children. I want to thank Councilmember Campillo for championing this ordinance for the City of San Diego. Let's make sure our kids get home safely.”

Since 2021, hospitals across the county have reported an approximate 20% increase in e-bike and electric-motorcycle injuries, including head injuries, torso trauma, rib fractures, spinal fractures, and extremity fractures, with many children and teenager patients suffering preventable harm.

“As a pediatric trauma surgeon at Rady Children’s Hospital who cares for injured children every week, I’ve seen how quickly e‑bike crashes can change a family’s life,” said Dr. Romeo Ignacio, Trauma Medical Director at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego. “Setting a minimum age of 12 is a simple, practical safeguard that helps keep our youngest riders safe while still supporting active transportation for older youth.”

“Sadly, as emergency medical responders, we’re seeing more and more accidents on the road related to the use of e-bikes,” said Carlos Valdez Acosta-Meza, Operations Manager for AMR San Diego. “But through education and awareness, such accidents are preventable. We’re grateful to Councilmember Campillo for taking the lead on e-bike safety and launching this major city-wide initiative.”