4-Year-Old's Death Leads To New E-Bike Restrictions Approved In SMC

REDWOOD CITY, CA — San Mateo County supervisors unanimously approved new e-bike restrictions Tuesday following months of safety discussions that came after a 4-year-old was killed in a chain-reaction crash involving an e-bike last year, authorities said.

The Board of Supervisors directed staff to name the ordinance after Ayden Everest Fang before it returns for a second reading.

Fang was killed Aug. 8, 2025, after an e-bike collided with an SUV in downtown Burlingame. Police said the SUV then accelerated across Donnelly Avenue, mounted a sidewalk and crashed into Truffle Poke Bar, striking Fang. A 6-year-old girl was also hospitalized following the crash.

Fang's death devastated the Burlingame community and was followed by calls for increased safety measures.

The ordinance approved Tuesday establishes a 5 mph speed limit for e-bikes on sidewalks and requires riders to yield to pedestrians and provide a clear, audible signal before passing them.

It also prohibits riding an e-bike in an unsafe manner that could endanger the rider or others, tampering with an e-bike's serial number and parking an e-bike in a way that blocks a sidewalk.

County officials developed the ordinance following several town halls and discussions with doctors, law enforcement officials and e-bike advocates amid concerns about crashes and injuries involving e-bikes.

“This ordinance helps keep those speeds low and keeps the public safe because that’s all we want,” San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Chris Larsen told supervisors.

Fang's parents later filed a wrongful-death lawsuit stemming from the crash.

The ordinance is scheduled to take effect in January 2027.