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Electric
Bicycle Laws in
California
California
Motor Vehicle Code:
Overview: In
California an “electric
bicycle" must have fully
operational pedals, can
not be capable of
traveling at speeds over
20 mph on level ground
using the motor’s
power only, and must
have under 1000 Watts of
motor power output.
Operators must obey all
rules of the road, wear
a bicycle helmet, and be
over 16 years old. No
insurance is required.
No driver license or
vehicle licensing or
registration is
required.
406(a)
A "motorized bicycle" or
"moped" is any
two-wheeled or
three-wheeled device
having fully operative
pedals for propulsion by
human power, or having
no pedals if powered
solely by electrical
energy, and an automatic
transmission and a motor
which produces less than
2 gross brake horsepower
and is capable of
propelling the device at
a maximum speed of not
more than 30 miles per
hour on level ground.
(b)
A "motorized bicycle" is
also a device that has
fully operative pedals
for propulsion by human
power and has an
electric motor that
meets all of the
following
requirements:
(1) Has a power output
of not more than 1,000
watts.(2) Is incapable
of propelling the device
at a speed of more than
20 miles per hour on
ground level.
(3) Is incapable of
further increasing the
speed of the device when
human power is used to
propel the motorized
bicycle faster than 20
miles per hour.
SEC.
3. Section 24016 is
added to the Vehicle
Code, to read:
24016. (a) A motorized
bicycle described in
subdivision (b) of
Section 406 shall meet
the following
criteria:
(1) Comply with the
equipment and
manufacturing
requirements for
bicycles adopted by the
Consumer Product Safety
Commission or the
requirements adopted by
the National Highway
Traffic Safety
Administration in
accordance with the
National Traffic and
Motor Vehicle Safety Act
of 1966 for motor driven
cycles.
(2) Operate in a manner
so that the electric
motor is disengaged or
ceases to function
when the brakes are
applied, or operate in a
manner such that the
motor is engaged through
a switch or mechanism
that, when released,
will cause the electric
motor to disengage or
cease to function.
(b) All of the following
apply to a motorized
bicycle described in
subdivision (b) of
Section 406:
(1) No person shall
operate a motorized
bicycle unless the
person is wearing a
properly
fitted and fastened
bicycle helmet that
meets the standards
described in Section
21212.
(2) A person operating a
motorized bicycle is
subject to Sections
21200 and 21200.5.
(3) A person operating a
motorized bicycle is not
subject to the
provisions of this
code
relating to financial
responsibility, driver's
licenses, registration,
and license plate
requirements, and a
motorized bicycle is not
a motor vehicle.
(4) A motorized bicycle
shall only be operated
by a person 16 years of
age or older.
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