Like many parents of young teenagers, Martinez resident Staci DeShasier knew exactly what her 13-year-old son, Erik, wanted for the holidays: an electric bike — a taste of independence for a kid not yet old enough to drive.
But once she started researching e-bikes, DeShasier quickly realized the gift came with risks she hadn’t anticipated.
“It’s been a very complex thing to figure out,” she said, adding that understanding the differences in e-bike classes and laws — and how some devices are marketed — “has taken our family a year.”
Her experience reflects a growing challenge for parents and public safety officials as electric two-wheelers surge in popularity. What was once a relatively straightforward purchase has become a confusing marketplace that includes everything from pedal-assisted bicycles to throttle-powered scooters, mopeds and even motorcycles — some of them marketed under the umbrella of “e-bikes.”
That confusion has raised alarms across the Bay Area, where cities are scrambling to educate parents and riders as injuries garner headlines and regulators struggle to keep pace.
“One of the messages that we want to make sure parents have when shopping for their teens and younger is that it’s not as simple or as intuitive as it probably ought to be,” said Walnut Creek City Council member Cindy Darling, a former mayor who has focused on e-bike education during her tenure. “It can be very difficult to discern what is what.”
The market’s growth has been rapid. According to eCycleElectric, an international consulting firm and industry advisor, sales of e-bikes and similar vehicles have increased annually since 2017. The firm also estimates that 1.7 million e-bikes were imported into the United States in 2024 — a 72% jump from the year before.
Market analysis by Business Wire projects consumer demand will grow by 8.35% annually through 2032, when the U.S. e-bike market is expected to reach $50.75 billion.
The growth that the industry has already seen has outpaced regulation and public understanding, officials say.
This space has “evolved faster than (city and public safety officials) can keep up with,” said Jenn Starnes, a spokesperson for the town of Danville.
At the core of the issue is a lack of basic knowledge among riders — and their parents — about how powerful and fast many e-bikes can be.
Under federal law, a low-speed electric bicycle must have operable pedals, a motor no stronger than 750 watts, and a top speed of 20 mph when powered solely by the motor. Vehicles that don’t meet all three criteria are not e-bikes at all, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission — they’re motor vehicles.
Even among legal e-bikes, the rules vary by class, reflecting differences in how fast the devices can go and how the motor can be controlled by the rider.
“I would hope parents would be aware that there are three separate classes for e-bicycles,” Concord police Sgt. Shawn Phalen said in an email.
Many aren’t. DeShasier said she had no idea before beginning her research — and officials say she’s far from alone.
Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted and capped at 20 mph. Class 2 e-bikes also top out at 20 mph but include a throttle. Class 3 e-bikes can reach 28 mph but do not have a throttle.
All require helmets, but their use is regulated differently. Class 1 bikes are typically allowed only on bike paths. Class 2 bikes are allowed on roads; some local communities allow them on paths, as well. Class 3 bikes are restricted to bike lanes along roads, and riders must be at least 16 years old in California.
Electric mopeds and motorcycles fall under separate rules and require a driver’s license and, in some cases, a motorcycle endorsement.
Despite those distinctions, officials say it can be difficult — sometimes nearly impossible — for consumers to tell what they’re buying.
“There’s no way by taking just a glance at them that you can tell which one is which,” Starnes said. She added that electric mopeds and motorcycles often are marketed online as e-bikes. “So you get parents trying to buy an e-bike, and they end up giving their 13-year-old what is really a moped or motorcycle.”
A search for “e-bikes” on Costco’s site, for example, returned five products, but not all of the listings specified what class a bike was in; some did not list a top speed for the bike prominently or make clear whether the speed was controlled by a throttle or a pedal assist.
The consequences can be severe. A 2024 study cited by Velo Magazine, a national cycling industry publication, found that nearly 1 in 8 e-bike trauma patients treated in Marin County emergency rooms died from their injuries — a fatality rate 37 times higher than for crashes involving traditional bicycles.
Even legal e-bikes can reach speeds far beyond what many parents expect.
“Twenty miles per hour is fast,” DeShasier said. “Really fast.”
On top of their basic speed, after-market modifications are allowing some e-bike riders to far exceed regulations on speed and acceleration, getting their devices to top speeds in excess of 40 mph.
Luke Bornheimer, executive director of Streets Forward, a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for biking, walking and public transit, said confusion isn’t limited to parents.
“People are right to be concerned about e-motorcycles that are being marketed as e-bikes,” Bornheimer said. “Especially, the ones that are marketed to kids that are younger than 18. It’s a disservice to the public.”
In response, some cities have imposed new restrictions. The Menlo Park City School District this year banned students under 16 from bringing Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to campus. Danville has prohibited e-bikes on sidewalks in its business district for more than a year.
Bornheimer emphasized that electric two-wheelers can still be a safe, practical transportation option — if riders understand what they’re using and follow the rules.
“Of all the crashes that result in injury or fatality, (most) still involve a car,” he said. “So we still consider it a safer thing to do, especially if you are aware of what you’re doing.”
“If you don’t do your research,” DeShasier said, “it would be very easy to make a mistake.”