Tiburon is first to join county in ban of throttle e-bikes for youths

Tiburon has become the first municipality to join Marin County in banning riders under age 16 from using throttle-assisted e-bikes beginning July 1, a move meant to make trails and roads safer for all riders.

The Town Council voted unanimously at its April 2 meeting to add the age restriction and a rule requiring legal riders of throttle-assisted bikes to wear helmets to its current e-bike ordinance. Councilmembers will conduct their second, required vote at their next meeting May 7.

The vote makes Tiburon the first of Marin’s 11 cities and towns to implement a county-specific pilot program that runs through 2029 under Assembly Bill 1778, authored by Assemblymember Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year. The Marin Board of Supervisors last month voted to implement the same age restriction and helmet rules on Class 2 e-bikes — which can reach speeds of 20 mph, though easily accessible hacks allow them to travel significantly faster — in unincorporated areas, including Strawberry and Paradise Cay. The supervisors are set to conduct their second required vote May 20.

The county intends for all its cities and towns to adopt the rules by July 1; Belvedere officials have said they plan to bring an ordinance before the City Council there next month.

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