Amazon says it won’t sell e-bikes in California that exceed state speed limits amid rise in deadly crashes
After several deadly crashes, Amazon says it will no longer allow California sales of certain e-bikes that can go faster than state speed limits, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
This comes after a consumer alert issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta last month, which called for pedal-assisted e-bikes not to exceed 28 mph, plus a 20 mph limit on throttle-assisted e-bikes.
Bike safety advocates say Bonta’s guidelines will also better distinguish e-bikes from e-motorcycles.
“Sort of differentiating a true e-bike… and these sort of bikes that really defy categorization, is by making a firm line to say, ‘These really require a different level of regulation, licensing.’ And that, I think, will really save lives,” said Eli Akira Kaufman, the executive director of Bike L.A.
The conversation comes amid a rise in deaths nationwide, and in California, involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles.
READ MORE: OC mother now charged with involuntary manslaughter following death of 81-year-old man
An Orange County mother is facing an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter after the death of an 81-year-old man, who had been hit by an electric motorcycle driven by her teen son.
A mother in Aliso Viejo is facing manslaughter charges after her teenage son hit and killed an 81-year-old man last month while riding an e-motorcycle.
A 13-year-old boy died in Garden Grove on Friday after police say he crashed an illegal e-motorcycle.
A 13-year-old boy has died after crashing an electric motorcycle in Garden Grove Thursday night, police said.
There’s also a push by Los Angeles city leaders to keep e-bikes off most city recreational trails to keep hikers safe.
Bicycle advocates say many people and parents don’t understand the three classes of e-bikes.
“The things people are selling as e-bikes are clearly motorcycles, mopeds, off-road dirt bikes, out-of-class devices that might have pedals, and they can sell them as ‘e-bikes’ because they are electric and they are bikes, but they’re totally illegal for electric bicycles,” said Bill Sellin with the Orange County Bicycle Coalition.
Under state law, Class 1 provides pedal-assist up to 20 mph, Class 2 includes a throttle and pedal-assist up to 20 mph and Class 3 offers pedal-assist up to 28 mph. E-bikes exceeding these speeds are classified as mopeds or motorcycles, requiring additional licensing and age restrictions.
Advocates say others that can go faster are being sold online under the guise of being an “e-bike.”
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