On January 1, 2023, Assembly Bill 1946 authored by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner went into effect. This bill required the Department of California Highway Patrol to develop a statewide safety and training program based on evidence-based practices for users of electric bicycles (e-bikes) by September 1, 2023. The safety and training programs were developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the California Office of Traffic Safety, PeopleForBikes, California Department of Public Health, and many others. The course was unveiled on August 31, 2023 and is accessible to the general public.
The online course covers topics like:
- E-Bike riding;
- What to consider when purchasing an E-Bike;
- Basic skills and maneuvers;
- Rules of the road; and
- Other safety tips.
The online course is made up of a mix of tutorials, videos, a quiz and other interactive elements that guide users through the course. The program aims to provide students with an easy-to-follow, intuitive presentation to help make the material engaging, practical and informative.
As e-bikes gain popularity, crashes are rising in numbers. CHP reported that preliminary data from the California Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System showed more than 9,600 bicycle-involved crashes in 2022. Of the 9,600 crashes, at least 225 were crashes involving an e-bike, including four which resulted in fatal injuries. In 2021, there were only 80 e-bike crashes reported in California which shows a significant increase in crashes over the year period.
To take the online e-bike safety course, visit the website