US States Propose New E-Bike Laws Amid Rising Injuries

Government officials and safety advocates across the United States are implementing new regulations to address a surge in injuries and fires linked to electric bicycles. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey filed the Ride Safe Act in May 2026 to create a statewide regulatory framework for micromobility devices based on speed, following a 23% annual increase in e-bike injuries since 2017.

Similar concerns are prompting action in California. The California legislature is currently considering Senate Bill 1167, which would penalize marketers who sell illegal high-speed devices, often marketed as e-bikes but functioning as more powerful e-motos. The Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition is collaborating with law enforcement to educate the public on these distinctions and general safety.

Local officials in Erie, Pennsylvania, and various Sonoma County cities report an increase in collisions. Authorities attribute these crashes to riders ignoring traffic laws and the use of modified kits that allow bikes to exceed legal speed limits. Beyond road safety, the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services has linked more than 170 house fires to lithium-ion batteries since late 2023, citing the use of incompatible chargers and damaged equipment as primary causes.