San Marcos could become the first city along the state Route 78 corridor to ban children under 12 from riding electric bicycles, part of a broader effort to improve safety and reduce collisions involving young riders.
The City Council will vote Tuesday, Oct. 28, on an ordinance that would prohibit kids younger than 12 from operating Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, which can reach speeds of up to 20 mph. The measure follows a new state law, Assembly Bill 2234, which allows San Diego County cities to set age limits for e-bike riders through 2029.
If approved, San Marcos would join Chula Vista, Poway and Coronado in adopting similar rules, according to a city announcement. Violators would receive warnings through January 2026 before citations begin in February, when a $25 fine could be issued for underage riders.
The decision comes as e-bike collisions in San Marcos have surged. Since early 2024, crashes involving e-bikes have occurred nearly four times as often as those with pedal bicycles, and two-thirds of them have involved riders under 18, the city reported.
Alongside the ordinance, the city will launch a “Ride Right” awareness campaign and invest nearly $80,000 from Measure Q funds to enhance education and enforcement. The funding will cover additional sheriff’s patrol hours, school-based safety programs, signage, and outreach materials promoting safe riding.
City officials say the effort is about prevention, not punishment. The campaign will focus on educating families and young riders about the rules of the road and the importance of safety equipment like helmets. Signs will also be installed in business districts reminding riders that e-bikes are not allowed on sidewalks.
If passed, the new rules will take effect immediately, with enforcement and education efforts rolling out citywide in partnership with the San Marcos Unified School District and the Sheriff’s Department.
The San Marcos City Council meets at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in City Hall, 1 Civic Center Drive.
This report was written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material.