Bay Area

I cycle / walk to work, and I 100% want to reign in these heavy ass bikes and doordash scooters that are flying past me at around 30mph. Ditto for when I’m out hiking in the hills with my dogs. About once a week I have to jump out of the way of a budget motorcycle.

This would basically mean petal assist would stop at 20mph if you don’t want a license. 20mph is still pretty damn reasonable if you’re commuting. I’m usually at about 15 to 20 mph.

Roads, trails, and intersections need to be safe for other cyclists, scooter users, and pedestrians. Visit SOMA during commute hours or redwood regional after work. That shit is not safe.

Why this Bill Fails California and the East Bay Community:

It Ignores the Real Danger: The leading cause of traffic violence, especially for bike riders, is that of outdated street design and heavy vehicular traffic. We need protected bikeway networks for all ages and abilities, not license plates.

It Targets the Wrong Problem: Most “e-bike” safety concerns stem from illegal “e-motos” or hacked devices that operate in excess of legal speeds, not the legal Class 2 and 3 bikes used by families, commuters, and workers.

It Punishes Sustainable Choices: While a gas car emits 374 g of CO2 per mile, an e-bike emits only 8g. By adding DMV-style red tape to e-bikes, we discourage the exact behavior needed to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals.

It Enables Biased Policing: In 2022, California abolished local bike registration requirements (AB 1909) in part because they were used as a pretext for biased stops. Reintroducing regulation and plate requirements provides a new tool for discriminatory enforcement.

So bikes with combustion engines by law need tags and insurance, but bikes with electric motors should not, despite being as fast and dangerous as their counterparts?

Honestly, bicycles should have license plates, period. They may not be as dangerous as cars, but they can still be very dangerous. And considering an unfortunate number of cyclists see themselves as above the law, it's necessary. And honestly, I would have absolutely no problem with registering my bike, as long as the process isn't overly complicated.