E-bike California driver licence bid

Californian electric bike riders may soon have to get an e-bike licence unless they already have a standard driver’s licence.

 Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner has introduced a new bill to help provide more safety and structure around young or unlicensed e-bike riders in the state, Electrek reports.

“The bill would ban children under age 12 from riding electric bikes.

“Any riders who are at least 12 but don’t have a car driver’s licence would be required to complete an online course, pass a written test, and get a state ID to legally operate an electric bicycle.”

Electrek says the proposed legislation comes in response to a significant increase in the number of young e-bike riders.

“Often in their teens, these new e-bike riders have flocked to electric bikes as an efficient and fun form of getting to school or meeting up with friends, securing themselves transportation independence from their parents and public transit.”

California attempted to introduce a similar proposal last year but that didn’t get past the assembly, says Electrek, adding some countries already have special training programmes for e-bike riders who haven’t got a car driver’s licence.

It’s unlikely anything like this would be introduced in New Zealand.

“It would be unprecedented as far as I know,” says Maurice Wells of The Electric Bike Team.

“Also, note that it’s just a member’s bill and it didn’t pass last time in California and will be unlikely to pass this time either.

“There’s significant challenges in banning kids from using e-bikes, even if society wanted to,” he says.

“Demanding children on the street produce identification isn’t going to be popular.”