E-bike safety town hall highlights proposed legislation, education

Menifee Police officers and California Highway Patrol officials discuss e-bike classes, safety and crash statistics.

Assemblywoman Natasha Johnson hosted an e-bike safety town hall Thursday at the Menifee Police Department, where state and local officials discussed proposed legislation, enforcement challenges and parental responsibility.

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The event brought together representatives from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Menifee Police Department and local elected officials to answer questions about e-bike safety. Attendees included parents and children who ride e-bikes, along with residents who shared concerns about reckless riding and safety.

Johnson outlined three proposals currently under consideration in the California Legislature. The proposals would require e-bikes and higher-powered two-wheeled vehicles to be more clearly labeled, require new e-bikes to have speedometers and establish speed limits in certain areas, and develop an e-bike safety and training program for students in grades 7 through 12.

Johnson said a recent UC San Diego study found e-bike injuries among children 14 and younger increased from just two reported cases in 2018 to more than 1,500 in 2024, highlighting the need for additional safety measures.

“We know that injuries are increasing and they’re on the rise,” Johnson said. “Part of the problem that we have is that we don’t have clear, uniform regulations.” 

While Johnson focused on proposed legislation, local officials said education and parental involvement remain key to improving safety.

“Education in the home is what I believe, and many believe, is the first step to public safety when it comes to e-bikes,” Menifee Mayor Ricky Estrada said. 

CHP Temecula Officer Flores reviewed California’s three classes of legal e-bikes and reminded attendees that many electric motorcycles, often referred to as e-motos, do not qualify as e-bikes and are intended for off-road use only. He also emphasized that bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road as motorists. 

Flores shared crash data from the CHP’s Temecula area office, which investigated nine e-bike collisions in 2024, 15 in 2025 and nine so far in 2026.

Menifee Police Lt. Raul Perez said improving e-bike safety will require cooperation from law enforcement, parents and the community.

“It’s a community problem, and it’s going to need everyone, all of us, to help out,” Perez said. “Don’t be afraid to say ‘no’ to your kids. It’s OK to say ‘no.’” 

Perez said parents should educate themselves before purchasing an e-bike or e-moto for their children, noting that officers have encountered parents who unknowingly purchased high-powered electric motorcycles for young teenagers. 

Johnson noted that Menifee was the first city in her district to host an e-bike safety town hall and said her office plans to replicate the event in other communities.

“It starts here,” Johnson said. “This is how we get the word out. It’s how we get the awareness and the education.” 

Menifee Bicycles also participated in the event by providing free bicycle helmets to attendees and donating an e-bike that was awarded to one attendee through a raffle.