California E-Bike Laws
Last checked:
The three e-bike classes
California law defines an electric bicycle as a bike with fully working pedals and an electric motor under 750 watts. It then sorts them into three classes.
Class 1 helps only while you pedal and stops helping at 20 mph. Class 2 can move the bike on the motor alone (a throttle) and stops helping at 20 mph. Class 3 helps only while you pedal, stops helping at 28 mph, and must have a speedometer.
Source: CVC 312.5 · California State Parks
Where e-bikes can ride by default
All three classes can go anywhere a regular bicycle can go, unless someone with authority says otherwise. Since AB 1909 took effect in 2023, Class 3 is no longer kept off bike paths by default.
Two kinds of agencies can change that. A city, county or other public agency that runs an equestrian, hiking or recreational trail can ban e-bikes, or any one class, on that trail by ordinance. California State Parks can ban e-bikes, or any class, on any bike path or trail it runs. That's why the rule changes from park to park.
Source: CVC 21207.5 (CHP bulletin)
Age, helmet and equipment rules
No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike. Everyone on a Class 3, rider and passenger, must wear a helmet, whatever their age.
Every e-bike needs a red reflector, or a solid or flashing red light with a built-in reflector, on the back. It must be visible from 500 feet, at all hours.
Source: CVC 21213, 21201(f) (CHP bulletin)
State parks
In California State Parks, e-bikes are allowed only on public roads unless the park's superintendent opens other areas by order. Each park unit decides for itself.
The State Parks e-bike page has a table of the units that allow e-bikes and which classes. Most of them allow Class 1 only, on trails already open to regular bikes. A few allow Class 2, such as the paved paths at Folsom Lake SRA. Off-highway vehicle areas (SVRAs) allow all classes. A park that isn't in the table, such as Mount Tamalpais, Annadel or Big Basin, allows e-bikes on public roads only. Some park pages add their own wording, so check the park you plan to ride.
Source: California State Parks
National forests
The U.S. Forest Service counts e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on roads and trails open to motor vehicles, not on non-motorized trails. Lake Tahoe Basin, San Bernardino and Inyo national forests all say this on their own pages.
Tahoe National Forest is the exception: it has about 35 miles of designated non-motorized singletrack open to Class 1 pedal-assist e-bikes.
National park units are different again. The National Park Service lets each park's superintendent designate e-bike routes.
Source: USDA Forest Service · Tahoe National Forest · National Park Service
Trails we've checked
Central Coast
- Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail ✅ Yes, all classesCity of Monterey Parks & Recreation
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Wilder Ranch State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
Sacramento & Gold Country
- American River Parkway (Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlySacramento County Regional Parks
- Auburn State Recreation Area trails 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Folsom Lake SRA & Lake Natoma trails 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyCalifornia State Parks
San Francisco Bay Area
- China Camp State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- East Bay Regional Parks dirt trails (Tilden, Redwood, Briones, etc.) 🟠 Class 1 onlyEast Bay Regional Park District
- Henry W. Coe State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Iron Horse Regional Trail 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyEast Bay Regional Park District
- Marin County Open Space preserves (fire roads & trails) 🔴 NoMarin County Parks / Marin County Open Space District
- Marin Headlands & Presidio trails (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) 🟢 Varies by routeNational Park Service - Golden Gate National Recreation Area
- Midpeninsula Regional Open Space preserves (Windy Hill, Russian Ridge, etc.) 🔴 NoMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District
- Mount Diablo State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Mount Tamalpais State Park 🔴 NoCalifornia State Parks
- Trione-Annadel State Park 🔴 NoCalifornia State Parks
Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe & Northeast
- Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail ❔ Call firstBureau of Land Management - Eagle Lake Field Office (west end: Lassen National Forest)
- Lake Tahoe Basin trails (Tahoe Rim Trail, Flume Trail, Corral, etc.) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service - Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
- Mammoth Lakes area trails (Inyo National Forest) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service - Inyo National Forest
- Tahoe National Forest trails (incl. Downieville) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service - Tahoe National Forest
Southern California (LA, Orange & Inland Empire)
- Big Bear area trails (San Bernardino National Forest) 🟡 Motorized routes onlyUSDA Forest Service - San Bernardino National Forest
- Chino Hills State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Crystal Cove State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Malibu Creek State Park 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
- Marvin Braude Bike Trail (The Strand / LA beach bike path) ❔ Call firstLA County Beaches & Harbors / LA County Public Works (plus beach cities)
- OC Parks wilderness & regional park dirt trails (Aliso & Wood Canyons, Whiting Ranch, etc.) 🔴 NoOC Parks
- Santa Ana River Trail (Orange County section) 🟢 Class 1 & 2 onlyOC Parks
- Topanga State Park (incl. Backbone/fire roads) 🟠 Class 1 onlyCalifornia State Parks
Common questions
What are the e-bike classes in California?
California has three e-bike classes: Class 1 (pedal-assist to 20 mph), Class 2 (throttle, cuts out at 20 mph) and Class 3 (pedal-assist to 28 mph, with a speedometer). All three need working pedals and a motor under 750 watts.
Where can I ride an e-bike in California?
All three classes can go anywhere a regular bicycle can go, unless someone with authority says otherwise. Since AB 1909 took effect in 2023, Class 3 is no longer kept off bike paths by default. Two kinds of agencies can change that. A city, county or other public agency that runs an equestrian, hiking or recreational trail can ban e-bikes, or any one class, on that trail by ordinance. California State Parks can ban e-bikes, or any class, on any bike path or trail it runs. That's why the rule changes from park to park.
Can I ride an e-bike in California state parks?
In California State Parks, e-bikes are allowed only on public roads unless the park's superintendent opens other areas by order. Each park unit decides for itself.
Is there an age limit or helmet law for e-bikes in California?
No one under 16 may ride a Class 3 e-bike. Everyone on a Class 3, rider and passenger, must wear a helmet, whatever their age.
Are e-bikes allowed in national forests in California?
The U.S. Forest Service counts e-bikes as motor vehicles. Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes are allowed on roads and trails open to motor vehicles, not on non-motorized trails. Lake Tahoe Basin, San Bernardino and Inyo national forests all say this on their own pages.