Amazon is pulling certain e-bike models from its California marketplace because they exceed state speed limits, marking a new effort to crack down on illegal high-speed electric bicycles.
The move comes one month after California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert reminding people about e-bike safety laws. In California, pedal-assist e-bikes can’t go faster than 28 miles per hour, while throttle-assist models are limited to 20 mph.
Until now, Californians could still order faster, illegal models on Amazon despite the state restrictions. An Amazon spokesperson says the company is now removing listings that don’t comply with California law.
“Very happy to hear that Amazon has taken that step,” said Ian Hembree, who works at the San Diego County Bike Coalition and rides an e-bike daily to work. “They’re a great tool for mobility. They’re clean energy. They don’t cost much to power — and compared to filling up a gas tank or charging an electric car, there’s really no competition.”
But Hembree also worries about safety risks, especially with younger riders. “We hate looking outside and seeing all the stories about kids riding super dangerously and going way too fast,” he said.
E-bike injuries and deaths have surged nationwide in recent years, alongside booming sales that jumped from 50,000 in 2018 to more than 527,000 in 2022, according to market research firm Circana.
The issue often stems from manufacturers who market high-speed vehicles as e-bikes when they should be classified as mopeds or motorcycles. “The bike can be advertised to you as an e-bike, and once you buy it, then you find out. There are efforts at the state level to try and fix that,” Hembree explained.
Bonta’s office applauded Amazon’s move, stating: “The safety of our communities requires manufacturers, sellers, and buyers — including parents — to know and comply with California’s e-bike laws.”
“We hope this is a sign of things to come in the state, because Amazon is not the only retailer selling these kinds of devices,” Hembree said.
Earlier this year, San Diego Senator Catherine Blakespear introduced Senate Bill 1167, which would ban manufacturers from marketing vehicles exceeding 28 mph as standard e-bikes. The bill is still moving through the legislature.