Electric bicycles: required equipment.

Assemblymember Davies' electric bicycle safety legislation mandates continuous rear lighting requirements and establishes specialized training provisions for young riders. The measure requires all electric bicycles to display a red reflector or flashing red light visible from 500 feet at all times, expanding current regulations that only apply during darkness.

For riders under 18, the law creates a pathway to avoid penalties for helmet violations involving electric bicycles. Parents can prevent court records and fees by providing proof of an approved helmet and documentation that their child completed a specialized electric bicycle safety course, which may include training developed by the California Highway Patrol. The legislation maintains existing fine structures, with 72.5% of penalties funding county bicycle safety education and helmet assistance programs for low-income families.

The provisions aim to address the distinct operating characteristics of electric bicycles while building upon California's broader framework of bicycle safety requirements. Local agencies and law enforcement will implement the expanded equipment standards and training requirements without state reimbursement, as the changes fall under existing enforcement mechanisms for vehicle code infractions.