Responsibility Rides With Us: Why CAYC Supports AB 1942
Anya Dalal
California’s electric bike boom has reshaped how young people move through our communities. Students ride to school, teens commute to jobs, and families replace short car trips with cleaner transportation. Despite clear benefits, gaps in safety and accountability remain. Assembly Bill 1942 aims to address these in a structured way. From the perspective of youth advocates who value both access and safety, it deserves support.
Introduced by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, AB 1942 would require certain higher-powered electric bicycles, specifically Class 2 and Class 3 models, to be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and display a state-issued license plate. The bill establishes a formal registration process and creates an Electric Bicycle Registration Fund to administer it. Riders would be required to carry proof of registration, with fines for noncompliance. The goal is to create an accountability framework for devices capable of high speeds in dense urban corridors and near schools.
For the California Association of Youth Commissions (CAYC), the legislation aligns with positions we have long advanced. Expanding youth access to e-bikes must go hand in hand with responsibility. We have promoted helmet use, safe speeds around pedestrians, respect for traffic laws, and education alongside infrastructure.
Opponents argue that registration and license plates will create bureaucracy and discourage ridership, which is understandable. However, registration is a modest administrative step (no more than $4 per year), reinforcing the need for high-speed devices operating in public spaces to be traceable and compliant.
Critics also contend that illegally modified devices are the real problem and warn that AB 1942 could target law-abiding riders. In practice, a clear registration system can strengthen enforcement by distinguishing compliant bikes from noncompliant machines. When legal Class 2 and Class 3 bikes are properly registered and identifiable, it becomes easier to isolate and remove machines that don’t meet statutory definitions.
Some advocacy groups warn about the impacts on equity and the potential for overpolicing. That history deserves attention and safeguards. At the same time, equity also means protecting young riders in communities where traffic violence and unsafe riding patterns are already concerns. Parents and school leaders are seeking tools that promote responsible use without restricting access. A statewide framework can be designed with reasonable fees, clear guidelines, and oversight to minimize abuse. There is also a climate aspect, as e-bikes play an important role in California’s decarbonization strategy, so supporting AB 1942 does not undermine that goal. Responsible regulation can strengthen long-term public acceptance of electric mobility by pairing growth with clear rules and shared expectations.
Youth advocates do not have to choose between access and safety. AB 1942 recognizes that electric mobility is here to stay and that its integration into our transportation system must mature. Supporting this is more focused on reinforcing the principle that the freedoms e-bikes provide endure only when matched with responsibility, transparency, and a commitment to safer streets for everyone.
Image credit: World License Plates