E-bike safety tips for families
Electric bikes (e-bikes) are growing in popularity across Menlo Park, especially with younger students looking for a quick ride to school. But with greater speed and weight come new safety responsibilities. Check out Menlo Park’s Local and Regional Transportation Options guide which provides information on e-bike safety.
Whether your child already rides an e-bike or is asking for one, here are some safety tips every family should know.
Choose the right e-bike
Not all e-bikes are the same and they are categorized into three classes:
- Class 1: Pedal assist only, up to 20 mph
- Class 2: Throttle and pedal assist, up to 20 mph
- Class 3: Pedal assist only, up to 28 mph (legal only for riders 16+)
Class I and Class 2 e-bikes are the most common and don’t have a minimum age requirement under California law. Nevertheless, parents should think carefully about the rider’s size, skill level and ability to manage the bike’s speed and power.
Maintain your e-bike
Regular maintenance keeps your child safer and extends the life of the bike. Before every ride:
- Test the brakes
- Check tire pressure
- Make sure the lights and battery are working
- Tighten loose parts
Teach street smarts
Many e-bike crashes happen because of unsafe rider behavior such as riding too fast, not stopping at intersections or riding on sidewalks.
- Help your child build good habits and understand that riding an e-bike is often more like driving than biking.
- For new riders, consider taking a free e-bike safety class from local organizations like the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition.
Not sure if e-bikes are the right fit? First, review some additional safety tips shared in the August 2023 Menlo Park SRTS newsletter. You’ll find safe walking routes, shuttles, bike maps, carpooling info and more.
E-bikes can be a fun, fast and eco-friendly way to get to school, but safety comes first. If your child rides an e-bike, make sure they know the rules, understand their responsibilities and ride smart every day.
If you have questions regarding e-bike safety, please email SafeRoutestoSchool@menlopark.gov.
Text provided by City of Menlo Park; photo courtesy of Meg Ramey
Tim August 13, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Good tips. Too many parents are being ignorant (or claiming it) and buying Class III ebikes and/or electric motorcycles pretending to be ebikes for their children. Ebikes can be a great entry into ‘active transportation’ for better environment, health etc. So let’s do it right.
Do NOT buy any kind of eBike for your kids other than Class I or II unless you would buy them a full-on motorcycle. While Class III is legal for 16+, they are reaching speeds where the driving needs are similar to motorcycles. And the not-really-ebikes like Surons are plain and simpily motorcycles and should only be ridden by people with appropriate training/experience/judgement/license and safety gear.
For the record, I am not anti-ebike or motorcycle. I’ve driven motorcycles for decades and will probably get an e-bike at some point, but I happen to be sticking to my analog ones for now. But e-bikes are unlicensed BECAUSE they ride with similar performance and risk characteristics to ‘analog’ bikes. Once that isn’t true, they become an issue.
I also strongly advise against getting a throttle-based e-bike for your kids.
1) I’ve watched the behavior around town and am seeing a high correlation between young kids riding by throttle (zero pedal action) and careless behavior. Riding while on the phone. Illegal passengers. Ignoring traffic on the road, etc.
2) Encourage motion. We are all too sedentary. Don’t encourage more. An ebike can be a great excuse to get them self-transporting instead of being shuttled in a car. Leverage that. The amount of effort needed on a proper pedal-assist bike in a strong mode is minimal, so no excuses. But at least it is something, and I think pedaling helps with mental engagement with the road too while helping to avoid the problem above.
3) You will avoid getting a Class III or e-motorcycle. They have throttles.