Anya Dalal
After months of advocacy and legislative debate, California has taken an important step toward improving youth e-bike safety. On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2595, authored by Assemblymember Diane Papan, into law.
Introduced in February, the bill passed the Assembly in May and the Senate in August with broad bipartisan support. Beginning January 1, 2027, it will allow local governments in San Mateo County to prohibit children under 12 from riding Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes. The legislation establishes a pilot program that could help shape future statewide policy.
The California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC) was proud to contribute to this effort. We worked closely with Assemblymember Papan and her team to advocate for the bill and were honored to be invited to her press conference last week. We were also excited to see our advocacy recognized in a recent Mercury News article, “San Mateo County, cities consider banning youth e-bike users,” highlighting how young people can help shape the policies affecting their communities.
But passing legislation is only the beginning. The next challenge is turning this new authority into meaningful improvements in youth safety.
Through our network of local youth commissions, we hope to bring young people into conversations with city councils and county officials about how best to implement e-bike safety policies. Beyond San Mateo County, our statewide network can help share lessons from the pilot program and advocate for safer riding across California.
E-bikes give young people independence, mobility, and an environmentally friendly way to get around. We also recognize that not everyone agrees with our approach to e-bike safety. In fact, we’ve learned a great deal from those who have challenged our ideas. Constructive criticism helps us question our assumptions and develop better policies.
Ultimately, our goal is to make riding safer while preserving the independence that makes e-bikes so valuable. Achieving that goal will require more than legislation. It will take education, thoughtful implementation, and, most importantly, listening to the young people these policies are meant to protect.
Image Credit: San Mateo Daily Journal