For many Los Gatos teenagers, nothing beats the thrill of speeding through the streets on an electric bike. E-bikes provide the kind of independence that kids used to only get with a driver’s license at 16. But in a moment, that freedom can turn into a nightmare. Is a shattered face and a fractured skull worth the thrill of reckless riding?
As e-bikes become an increasingly common sight on our streets, the fine line between carefree fun and severe consequences has sparked debate among parents, government representatives and local authorities about the future of e-bikes.
“We had (an accident) here just yesterday,” crossing guard Tess at the Caldwell Avenue and Los Gatos Boulevard intersection told the Los Gatan on Friday. “Some little boy was flying on an e-bike and turned around the corner and fell and hit his chin.”
With blind corners on all sides and hordes of children migrating home from school, she finds herself increasingly worried about e-bikes—especially when they’re ridden on sidewalks or against traffic.
“It’s a dangerous intersection,” she said.
In downtown areas, particularly during peak school hours, it has become increasingly common to see groups of teenagers on e-bikes hazardously navigating sidewalks and performing stunts.
Issues such as riding without helmets, disobeying traffic signs, traveling side-by-side, illegally carrying passengers and disregarding pedestrian right-of-way are escalating beyond minor inconveniences to become significant community concerns, officials say.
Discussions on platforms like the Los Gatos Nextdoor page reflect growing frustrations among local residents. Since the start of September, three Nextdoor threads on e-bikes have exploded with local opinions, racking up more than 300 comments.
Mike MacIntosh, a Monte Sereno local, recently posted on the platform about an encounter between his wife and a reckless e-bike driver.
“We observe—almost every single day—kids that don’t know what they’re doing, doing crazy stuff on these e-bikes,” MacIntosh told the Los Gatan.
But for MacIntosh’s family, their experience with e-bikes goes beyond witnessing reckless behavior. At the start of the year, his wife was walking along Austin Way in Monte Sereno when she was struck from behind by a child on an e-bike.
“She was slammed to the ground,” MacIntosh said. “The kid was going so fast that she didn’t even have time to put her arms out to break her fall…Then she looked up, and she could just see the kid riding away. The kid didn’t even stop.”
MacIntosh’s wife injured her jaw and hand, resulting in a six-hour visit to El Camino Hospital. She came home with multiple stitches.
While tragic accidents like this one happen every day across the state, manufacturers and e-bike promoters often focus on the brighter side—promoting their lower upfront costs, minimal maintenance and fuel savings as key selling points. While there is truth in the statement that e-bike manufacturers are eco-friendly and cheaper alternatives to traditional cars, the growing risks associated with their use by young riders often go overlooked.
A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals that injuries associated with micromobility devices (e-scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes) surged nearly 21% in 2022 compared to 2021. That continues a troubling trend with an average annual increase of 23% since 2017, with 233 deaths recorded during this period.
And it turns out, younger riders are some of the most at risk. Children aged 14 and below, who make up just 18% of the U.S. population, accounted for over a third of micromobility-related injuries. Emergency departments nationwide reported an estimated 360,800 visits due to micromobility-related injuries in the same period, with fractures and contusions being the most common.
Our community hasn’t escaped these dangerous trends. Just last July, a man on an e-scooter was killed in a collision with a SUV in the Camden Avenue and Highway 85 area. The summer prior, a Los Gatos teenager riding an e-bike without a helmet collided with a stopped car, fracturing his face and skull.
With life-threatening collisions like these happening regularly, some Los Gatos residents find it hard to believe that e-bikes aren’t classified in the same category as motorcycles.
According to the Town of Los Gatos website, an e-bike is an electric bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. There are three established classes of low-speed pedal-assisted e-bikes. Class I assists while pedaling up to 20 mph, Class II uses a motor to propel the bike up to 20 mph and Class III assists while pedaling up to 28 mph and includes a speedometer.
There are no age limits for drivers and passengers of Class I and II e-bikes. However, drivers of Class III e-bikes must be at least 16 years old and cannot transport passengers. All bikers under 18 must wear a helmet at all times.
In February 2023, State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner introduced Assembly Bill 530, proposing a statewide e-bike licensing program with an online test, ID requirement, and a ban on e-bikes for children under 12. Although AB 530 failed earlier this year, Boerner introduced an amended version, AB 2234, which launched a San Diego County pilot allowing local authorities to ban children under 12 from riding Class I or II e-bikes.
Some local residents are hoping that Los Gatos could be included in an expanded version of this program.
“I think the State of California needs to step up and bring some rules to these bikes. They are basically an electric motorcycle!” posted Nextdoor user Jane Lawson, a Campbell resident.
MacIntosh agrees.
“I’ve seen these kids up to, without a doubt, 30 miles an hour plus—it’s basically a motorcycle,” he said. “I think that e-bikes should be treated the same way that motorcycles are managed. It’s 16 years old to get your license, and you gotta pass the test—and you gotta understand traffic rules. That’s the other thing—these kids don’t understand traffic rules, and they don’t care. They love having the ability to go fast.”
Until State regulation makes its way beyond San Diego, MacIntosh hopes our town leaders and police department can work together to solve the problem locally.
“I think they owe the community a response and a plan,” MacIntosh said.
For now, the LGMSPD is reminding e-bike drivers of the importance of following the rules of the road—including always wearing a helmet—no matter their age.
More resources and information, including safety classes, can be found on the LGMSPD websites at losgatosca.gov/2811/Electric-Bikes.
