LOS ANGELES, CA — City officials will study new regulations for e-bikes, e-motos and electric mopeds amid concerns about crashes, illegal modifications and battery safety.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to direct the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and several other agencies to return within 90 days with recommendations for regulating the increasingly popular electric-powered vehicles.
The review could lead to rules requiring e-bikes, e-motos and electric mopeds sold or used in Los Angeles to meet existing legal standards. Officials will also consider banning the sale or resale of devices that do not comply with those requirements.
Other proposals include prohibiting the conversion of e-bikes into higher-powered classes or e-motos and barring the sale of e-motos or electric mopeds that are not street legal when purchased or that require an M1 motorcycle license to operate legally.
The city will also consider requiring educational training for riders younger than 18 or those without a driver's license, along with rules governing the storage and charging of the devices to reduce the risk of battery fires and hazardous waste.
The City Council motion cited a recent increase in crashes involving electric mopeds and motorcycles in Los Angeles and elsewhere in Southern California, along with increased law enforcement activity and emergency room visits. It also noted a March crash in which a teenager riding what the motion described as a street-illegal electric motorcycle struck an elderly pedestrian, leaving her gravely injured.
At the same time, councilmembers acknowledged the benefits of e-bikes and similar devices, including lower transportation costs and providing an alternative to cars for short trips.
Under California's classification system, Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 mph, while Class 2 bikes can use a throttle and are also capped at 20 mph. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph and generally face additional restrictions.
The council also directed the city's chief legislative analyst to review pending state legislation dealing with e-bikes, e-motos and similar vehicles and recommend whether Los Angeles should formally support any of the bills.
Additionally, the council requested that the Los Angeles Police Commission, working with the LAPD and City Attorney's Office, publish annual data on collisions, injuries and deaths involving e-bikes, e-motos and electric mopeds to help policymakers evaluate future safety measures.
The Transportation Committee endorsed the proposal in April, followed by the Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Aug. 4 and the Public Safety Committee on Aug. 12.
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