Bill Text: CA SB381 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Electric bicycles: study.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 869, Statutes of 2023. [SB381 Detail]

Download: California-2023-SB381-Introduced.html

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CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill

No. 381

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Introduced by Senator Min

February 09, 2023

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An act to add and repeal Section 21214 of the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 381, as introduced, Min. Electric bicycles: study.

Existing law defines an electric bicycle to mean a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and subjects a person riding an electric bicycle to provisions of law governing the operation of a bicycle.

This bill would require the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University to, on or before January 1, 2026, conduct a study on electric bicycles to inform efforts to improve the safety of riders and pedestrians, and to submit a report of the findings from the study to the Legislature. The bill would require the study to examine or compile, among other things, data on injuries, accidents, emergency room visits, and deaths related to bicycles and electronic bicycles and data on best practices for safety of regular bicycles versus electric bicycles.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:

(a) Electric bicycles not only offer a solution to car dependency and transport poverty, but also help reduce our carbon footprint. As California moves away from its dependence on fossil fuels, we will see a rise in zero emission modes of transportation, including, but limited to, electric bicycles.

(b) While the uptake in usage of electric bicycles is necessary to meet our climate goals, it is important to ensure rider and pedestrian safety. Research shows that accidents with an electric bicycle have more severe consequences than with a regular bicycle. Head trauma is significantly higher, although a helmet is much more frequently used. The main culprit behind these results, according to the experts, is the much higher speed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 21214 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

21214.

 (a) On or before January 1, 2026, the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University shall conduct a study on electric bicycles to inform efforts to improve the safety of riders and pedestrians, and submit a report of the findings from the study to the Legislature. The study shall examine or compile information, including, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) Data on injuries, accidents, emergency room visits, and deaths related to bicycles and electronic bicycles.

(2) Data comparing the injury patterns between bicycles and electric bicycles in California.

(3) Data on best practices for safety of regular bicycles versus electric bicycles.

(4) Review of all laws in the code pertaining to electric bicycles.

(5) Recommended accessories, including, but not limited to, headlights, speedometers, brakes, bells, reflectors, and helmets, and how having these accessories help to provide safety.

(6) Data on the manufacturing of electric bicycles, including, but not limited to, the market of electric bicycles, manufacturer information, sales patterns, and the number of electric bicycles on California roads, including the usage by city and the reasons behind the usage.

(7) Data on other countries with high electric bicycles usage, including a review of policy mechanisms those countries use to regulate and promote the safe use of electric bicycles and what California can learn from them.

(b) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.

(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2030.