New law cracks down on illegal marketing of e-motos as e-bikes

Today, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 1167 (Blakespear), a bill that bans manufacturers from advertising high-powered “e-motos” as e-bikes. This legislation requires higher-powered electric motorcycles and mopeds to be truthfully labeled, properly disclosed, and regulated as the motor vehicles that they are.

E-motos have often been marketed to consumers as Class 3 e-bikes, despite not fitting that legal classification. Consumers themselves may not know they purchased and are riding an e-moto with very different laws and safety considerations than e-bikes. E-moto drivers must have a motorcycle license (M1 or M2), be at least 16 years old, wear a helmet while riding an moped, and be insured.

E-bikes are legal, regulated, and speed-limited. But illegal e-motos – which can look a lot like an e-bike (and sometimes even have pedals) – are very different.

These devices are capable of reaching well above speeds that legal e-bikes can. This is creating safety issues for everyone on our streets, including the riders themselves.

That’s why Walk SF supported SB 1167. This law is an important step toward shaping the rapid growth of micromobility devices (e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-motos) to ensure safety. We’re grateful that Senator Blakespear championed a thoughtful bill to help address this.

But what about cars?

Motor vehicles remain by far the biggest danger on our streets and what the majority of Walk SF’s advocacy focuses on. However, there are safety risks with micromobility devices for riders themselves and for others, including pedestrians. Walk SF is actively researching solutions to address this.

Street safety infrastructure (such as protected bike lanes) is inadequate for the many ways people now get around without a private vehicle. Simultaneously, regulation has seriously lagged in adequately addressing this new era in micromobility.

Because this all affects pedestrian safety, Walk SF is working to actively shape the City’s approach. We’ll be sharing more soon, so be sure you’re signed up for our newsletter to be the first to hear.

Special thanks to our friends at CalBike, People for Bikes, Streets for All, and Streets Are For Everyone for co-sponsoring SB 1167. Related reading: the recent report from the California Independent Electric Mobility Council.