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E-bikes, E-motos, and Electric Mopeds / Increase Safety and Welfare of Los Angeles Residents / Annual Data Publication

Council File 26-0548

Under review — the city council approved a motion to regulate illegal e-mopeds and mopeds after a series of serious crashes, and committees are now weighing whether to formally support two pending state bills that would tighten safety standards and labeling requirements.

Introduced
2026-04-15
Last changed
2026-09-15
Status
open
Expires
2028-09-14
Committee
Public Safety Committee
Mover
HEATHER HUTT
Second
TRACI PARK
References
Chief Legislative Analyst Report: 26-08-0612

Brief

Councilmembers Heather Hutt and John S. Lee moved to direct the City to publish annual data on e-bike, e-moto, and e-moped safety, injuries, and incidents to improve public understanding of micromobility risks. The Council adopted the motion 14-0-1 on August 25, 2026. A Chief Legislative Analyst report submitted in mid-September has since been referred back to three committees—Public Safety, Rules, and Transportation—for further review, suggesting implementation details or data collection frameworks may still be under development.

Full summary

On April 15, 2026, Councilmembers Heather Hutt and John S. Lee introduced a motion responding to a surge in crashes involving electric mopeds and motorcycles in Los Angeles, including a March 2026 incident in which a teenager on an illegal electric motorcycle seriously injured an elderly pedestrian. The motion directs the Department of Transportation—with help from the Bicycle Advisory Committee, the City Attorney, LAPD, the Bureau of Street Services, and Metro—to report back within 90 days on how to regulate e-bikes, e-motos, and electric mopeds. Potential local measures identified in the motion include requiring all such vehicles to meet legal standards, banning the sale of noncompliant or illegally mislabeled devices, prohibiting conversion of e-bikes to higher-powered classes, mandating safety education for riders under 18 or without a driver's license, and establishing rules for safe storage and charging to prevent battery fires. The motion also directs the Chief Legislative Analyst to analyze pending state legislation on these vehicles, and requests the Los Angeles Police Commission to begin publishing annual data on e-bike, e-moto, and e-moped collisions, injuries, and deaths. A central concern driving the motion is mislabeling: electric motos and mopeds are frequently marketed to teens and parents as ordinary e-bikes, obscuring the fact that they are not street-legal without modifications, and that operating them legally requires a motorcycle license. The motion notes that nearly all reported crashes in the region involve these illegal, mislabeled devices rather than compliant e-bikes, and that resulting injuries—including traumatic brain injuries, severe fractures, and deaths—are far more serious than those from conventional bicycle crashes. On the state legislation front, the Chief Legislative Analyst's September 14, 2026 report reviewed eight bills introduced this session. Two failed in the Assembly: AB 1942, which would have required DMV registration and license plates for Class 2 and 3 e-bikes, and AB 1557, which would have lowered speed caps and banned riders under 16 from operating higher-wattage e-bikes. Two bills were signed by the Governor: AB 1569, requiring the California Department of Education to develop a standardized e-bike safety curriculum for grades 7-12 (signed August 27, 2026), and AB 1614, requiring bicycle riders to use a proper seat (signed June 30, 2026). Two bills most directly relevant to the motion's concerns—AB 2346 and SB 1167—were enrolled and awaiting the Governor's signature as of September 10, 2026. AB 2346 would require speedometers on Class 2 e-bikes, front and rear lamps on all e-bikes sold after January 1, 2029, point-of-sale disclosures of class and speed, and would authorize local jurisdictions to set speed limits of 10, 15, or 20 mph on bike paths and multiuse trails. SB 1167 would tighten definitional distinctions between e-bikes and motor-driven cycles or mopeds, strengthen labeling requirements, and prohibit the sale of noncompliant vehicles as e-bikes. The CLA recommends the City formally add support for both AB 2346 and SB 1167 to its 2025-2026 State Legislative Program, with draft resolutions attached. The motion passed all three committees and was adopted by the full Council 14-0-1 on August 25, 2026. The CLA's follow-up report and the draft support resolutions were referred back to the Public Safety, Rules, and Transportation committees on September 15, 2026, where they remain pending. The file is active through September 2028.

Activity (15)

  • 2026-09-15 Chief Legislative Analyst document(s) referred to Public Safety Committee; Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-09-14 Document submitted by Chief Legislative Analyst, dated September 14, 2026.
  • 2026-08-26 Council action final.
  • 2026-08-25 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2026-08-21 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on August 25, 2026.
  • 2026-08-12 Public Safety Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-08-07 Public Safety Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 12, 2026.
  • 2026-08-04 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee concurred with the 4/22/26 action of the Transportation Committee.
  • 2026-07-31 Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on August 4, 2026.
  • 2026-07-08 Community Impact Statement submitted by Studio City Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-06-10 Community Impact Statement submitted by NoHo Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-05-14 Community Impact Statement submitted by Westside Neighborhood Council.
  • 2026-04-22 Transportation Committee approved item(s) .
  • 2026-04-17 Transportation Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on April 22, 2026.
  • 2026-04-15 Motion referred to Public Safety Committee; Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Transportation Committee.

Documents (14)

Council votes (1)

  • 2026-08-25 Adopted — 14-0-1 · Regular

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