BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1096 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 13, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1096 (Chiu) - As Amended April 29, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Transportation |Vote:|15 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: YesReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill defines classes of electric bicycles and establishes conditions for their operation. Specifically, this bill: AB 1096 Page 2 1)Defines an "electric bicycle" as a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts, and establishes three classes of such bikes, as specified. 2)Requires manufacturers and distributors of electric bicycles, on or after January 1, 2017, to apply a specified label that is permanently affixed in a prominent location. 3)Prohibits anyone under 16 from operating a Class 3 electric bicycle, which has motor that ceases assisting the rider above 28 miles per hour, and requires anyone riding on a Class 3 bicycle to wear a helmet. 4)Prohibits the operation of a Class 3 electric bicycle on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, bicycle lane, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail, unless it is within or adjacent to a roadway or unless allowed by the local government entity having jurisdiction over such path or trail, and authorizes these entities to also prohibit the operation of Class 1 and Class 2 electric bicycles on that path or trail. FISCAL EFFECT: Minor nonreimbursable state-mandated costs to local governments for enforcement, offset to some extent by fine revenues. COMMENTS: Background and Purpose. Current law provides for two categories of motorized bicycle. Those in the first category have a maximum AB 1096 Page 3 allowable speed of 30 mph, pedals for human propulsion, and a motor that produces no more than four horsepower. Bicycles in the second category have a maximum allowable speed of 20 mph, a 1,000-watt (approximately 1.4 horsepower) motor, and pedals for human propulsion. This 20-year-old statute did not conceive of the types of electric bicycles that exist today. According to the author, "Modern electric motor-assisted bicycles are designed to behave almost exactly like a regular bicycle - just easier to pedal - but they are regulated as 'motorized bicycles' with restrictions that bar their use on most bicycle paths. Ambiguous language in the description of electric bikes creates confusion for manufacturers and consumers in this fast-growing market. AB 1096 would create improved definitions of electric bikes and appropriately permit more access to trails and paths." Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081