North Bay Congressman Jared Huffman is leading a bipartisan charge to overhaul federal safety standards for electric bicycles and motorcycles.
Introduced as the Safe SPEEDS Act, the bill aims to modernize regulations that have remained largely unchanged since 2002.
The Marin Independent Journal reports Huffman and co-authors argue that a “patchwork” of state laws has left consumers confused and children at risk from overpowered, often modified, devices.
The legislation would task the Consumer Product Safety Commission with creating clear vehicle classifications, age recommendations, and stricter labeling requirements. In Marin County alone, nearly 30% of recent bike crashes have involved e-bikes, many involving riders under sixteen.
While some advocates call for even tougher motor limits, Huffman says these “common sense” federal guardrails are a critical first step in curbing rising hospitalizations.
