E-Bike Injury Rate Still Nearly 4 Times Higher Among Marin Youth Despite Decline

MARIN COUNTY, CA — E-bike accident rates among Marin County children have fallen over the past two years, but young riders continue to experience accidents at a rate nearly four times higher than other age groups, according to new county data.

The rate among 10- to 15-year-olds dropped from 16.25 to 11.65 accidents per 10,000 residents between July 2024 and June 2026, according to Marin County Public Health.

The decline spans the year before and after implementation of the Marin E-bike Safety Pilot Program, which brought new restrictions for younger riders across the county.

Public health officials cautioned that it is too early to determine whether the new rules caused the decline.

“Because the total number of incidents each year is relatively small, we caution against overinterpreting these early results,” said Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County public health officer. “Another year of data collection will provide a stronger basis for assessing longer-term trends and any potential impacts of Assembly Bill 1778.”

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Despite that decline, the accident rate for this age group is nearly four times higher than other age groups.

The latest Marin Emergency Medical Services data comes as students return to school and county officials renew their push for families to review e-bike safety rules. Public health data show injuries among young riders tend to increase in late summer and fall.

“We want families to have this information before school starts; prevention happens before an injury, not after,” Santora said.

The pilot program was authorized under Assembly Bill 1778, and it took full effect across Marin in early fall 2025 after the county and its 11 cities and towns adopted matching ordinances.

The rules prohibit anyone under 16 from operating a Class 2 e-bike, which uses a throttle and can reach speeds of up to 20 mph. Anyone riding a Class 2 e-bike in Marin must wear a helmet regardless of age.

The local rules are part of a broader debate over how California should regulate increasingly popular e-bikes, particularly faster models and their use by children.

Marin County has been tracking bicycle and e-bike-related 911 responses for more than two years through its Bicycle Safety Dashboard. A sharp increase in e-bike injuries among younger riders prompted county public health officials to issue a safety alert in November 2023.

The county and Transportation Authority of Marin also launched the E-Bikers Club last year to teach families about e-bike classifications and safe riding. The program includes a youth pledge to wear helmets, follow traffic laws and be mindful of other road users.

“We're not trying to get kids off bikes; we want more of them riding safely,” said Mary Sackett, Marin County supervisor who has led the county's Special Committee on Youth E-Bike Safety. “We want to make sure every rider is ready for the road.”

Public health officials plan to continue collecting injury data and will present their latest findings to the Transportation Authority of Marin Board of Commissioners on Sept. 24.

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