'Epidemic levels': California's e-bike war explodes in Orange County

[Elderberry]

SFGATE By Farley Elliott 8/7/2026

Injuries are up 430%, and the hard-nosed district attorney has had enough

California’s love-hate relationship with e-bikes and e-motorcycles is nothing new. Through one lens, the fossil fuel-free world of modern e-bike mania could be reason to rejoice, as the state continues to stretch toward giant climate goals like carbon neutrality by 2045. But there’s a darker vision of the e-bike world, where suburban idyll is shattered by hordes of law-breaking riders, often children, on souped-up electric weapons of discomfort, mayhem and, occasionally, death.

Nowhere is that stark contrast more acute than in Orange County. With its economic mix of everyday inland suburbia and unrivaled coastal wealth, accompanied by a tough-on-crime enforcement approach, it has become ground zero for the escalating war on these rechargeable two-wheeled vehicles.

From his Santa Ana office, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has led a sweeping effort to solve the region’s e-bike and e-motorcycle headaches, including increased threats of prison time for family members who have enabled misuse of these vehicles. In May, Spitzer debuted a new law enforcement unit called RIDE SAFELY (a muddy partial acronym meaning “Smart Accountability for E-Bikes and E-Motos and Law Enforcement for Youth”). The group’s stated focus is to review existing e-bike and e-moto cases with increased scrutiny for possible prosecution, and to “assist law enforcement agencies through the investigatory process” as needed, as noted in a news release.

More: https://www.sfgate.com/california/article/oc-e-bike-war-22378782.php

[GtHawk]

The kids on those E-bikes are insane, some of those bikes go in excess of 40 mph and the kids run reds and stop signs, illegally cross in front of traffic causing accidents. the police need to b e writing tickets and confiscating the bikes. I also think that the bikes need to registered and the parents of the kids, or the adults that ride them need to carry insurance.

[cato potatoe]

Bicycling on roads where half of the commuters are Chinese or illegal aliens does not seem wise. 

[Sighlass]

But but but.... they run on clean electricity and don't pollute....

The problem is rules of the road are being ignored, often by kids/adults/illegals that are taught that rules don't apply to them.

[Smokin Joe]

But but but.... they run on clean electricity and don't pollute....

The problem is rules of the road are being ignored, often by kids/adults/illegals that are taught that rules don't apply to them.

One shot out of an alley the other day and was less than a second from being a biohazard. (Cleanup, that is).

Crossed the street in front of my vehicle, and never once looked to either side. Had I been doing the speed limit (instead of sandbagging along 5 MPH slower because of kids in the area) the outcome might have been uglier.

(Loud pipes save lives).

[roamer_1]

But but but.... they run on clean electricity and don't pollute....

The problem is rules of the road are being ignored, often by kids/adults/illegals that are taught that rules don't apply to them.

I ain't against em, no I ain't.
Sure would have been nice most of my life to have one of them strapped to the bumper on my pickup. Then if the truck breaks down you've got a ride out (the first 30 miles or so anyway).

My first shot, if I can do it is gonna be a 4 wheel 4x4 bike rigged up for off-road, inspired by off-road electric (not a) wheelchairs. I don't need a full on wheelchair, but as a form of conveyance fr a gimped up guy that wouldn't otherwise be able to get up in the woods - this is something else, I'll tell you what.

Shoot, when I first started looking at it, I was going to build a trike. That dang thing had a projected 40 mile range - Even if it only did half of that, I could go all over town.

I think they are pretty sweet.