California's legislature is moving fast on e-bikes—and not always in the right direction. A flood of bills this session could restrict legal e-bikes, create a confusing patchwork of local rules, and make clean transportation more expensive for the people who need it most.

The real problem the legislature should focus on is Illegal e-motos. These are high-powered, high-speed devices marketed as e-bikes but that don't meet legal requirements. SB 1167 (Blakespear) will address the e-moto problem. It requires that e-motos be clearly labeled, treated as motor vehicles, and not advertised or sold as e-bikes.

A different bill in the assembly, AB 1557,  would cap the speed and power of legal e-bikes, while doing nothing to rein in illegal e-motos. The bill creates a standard for e-bikes specific to California, which would force manufacturers to redesign products for a single state. It would severely restrict access to legal e-bikes, especially the most affordable ones.

Write to your state Assemblymember and Senator today. Tell them to oppose AB 1557, support SB 1167, and keep legal e-bikes available and affordable for all Californians.