After several deadly crashes, Amazon says it will no longer allow California sales of certain e-bikes that can go faster than state speed limits.
Monday, May 11, 2026 4:49AM After several deadly crashes, Amazon says it will no longer allow California sales of certain e-bikes that can go faster than state speed limits, according to Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
This comes after a consumer alert issued by California Attorney General Rob Bonta last month, which called for pedal-assisted e-bikes not to exceed 28 mph, plus a 20 mph limit on throttle-assisted e-bikes. Bike safety advocates say Bonta's guidelines will also better distinguish e-bikes from e-motorcycles.
"Sort of differentiating a true e-bike... and these sort of bikes that really defy categorization, is by making a firm line to say, 'These really require a different level of regulation, licensing. ' And that, I think, will really save lives," said Eli Akira Kaufman, the executive director of Bike L.A. The conversation comes amid a rise in deaths nationwide, and in California, involving e-bikes and e-motorcycles.
An Orange County mother is facing an additional charge of involuntary manslaughter after the death of an 81-year-old man, who had been hit by an electric motorcycle driven by her teen son. A mother in Aliso Viejo is facing manslaughter charges after her teenage son hit and killed an 81-year-old man last month while riding an e-motorcycle. A 13-year-old boy has died after crashing an electric motorcycle in Garden Grove Thursday night, police said.
There's also a push by Los Angeles city leaders to keep e-bikes off most city recreational trails to keep hikers safe.
"The things people are selling as e-bikes are clearly motorcycles, mopeds, off-road dirt bikes, out-of-class devices that might have pedals, and they can sell them as 'e-bikes' because they are electric and they are bikes, but they're totally illegal for electric bicycles," said Bill Sellin with the Orange County Bicycle Coalition. Under state law, Class 1 provides pedal-assist up to 20 mph, Class 2 includes a throttle and pedal-assist up to 20 mph and Class 3 offers pedal-assist up to 28 mph.
E-bikes exceeding these speeds are classified as mopeds or motorcycles, requiring additional licensing and age restrictions. Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
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