New law allows Tiburon, Belvedere to ban kids from riding throttle-controlled e-bikes

Marin County and its cities, including Tiburon and Belvedere, will soon be able to ban riders under 16 from using throttle-assisted e-bikes under a four-year pilot program signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 30.

Assembly Bill 1778, by Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, would also allow the county and its municipalities to require all riders wear helmets on Class 2 e-bikes, which can reach speeds of 20 mph — though easily accessible hacks allow them to travel significantly faster. Jurisdictions can start to adopt the new regulations starting Jan. 1, 2025.

The pilot program comes amid years of complaints from residents about dangerous riding, mostly by kids, on the Old Rail Trail and other paths and roads in Tiburon and Belvedere, leading to public-safety warnings and a revamp of rules in Tiburon.

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