The hum of Orange County commuter traffic is increasingly joined by the soft whir of electric bicycles. E-bikes are changing the way people move. Students, older adults, and short-distance commuters are looking for a cleaner, quicker alternative to driving. But as ridership grows, so do concerns. Parents worry about speed. Cities juggle inconsistent rules. Emergency rooms see more bike-related injuries than ever before.
E-Bike Accidents on the Rise in California
Electric bicycle use is growing rapidly. Statewide data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) show that e-bike-related collisions rose more than eighteen-fold between 2018 and 2023, from 184 to over 3,400 annually. In Marin County, youth aged 10 to 19 account for 70% of e-bike-related emergency room visits, compared to 12% for non-electric bicycles. In Santa Barbara, reported e-bike collisions surged from 10 to 107 in just two years. Most of these crashes were caused by the rider, often due to unsafe maneuvers or ignoring traffic controls.
The severity of e-bike injuries also sets them apart from old school pedal bikes. Hospitals report that trauma from e-bikes often resembles motorcycle accidents, including complex fractures, head trauma, and internal injuries. MarinHealth trauma center data shows e-bike patients are more likely to be hospitalized and face a higher rate of fatal outcomes. Pediatric specialists note more serious teen injuries, including femur and pelvis fractures, often linked to high-speed falls from throttle-powered models. Injuries from pedal bikes, by contrast, have remained relatively stable.
OCTA’s E-Bike Safety Plan
In response to these trends, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) recently published its E-Bike Safety Action Plan. The plan blends data and community action to make e-biking safer and smarter. The goal is that these actions will encourage the adoption of projects and programs to promote the freedom and accessibility that e-bikes offer.
Action Plan Focus Areas
The plan was built from the ground up. OCTA planners examined local crash data, surveyed retailers and law enforcement, and hosted virtual open houses. This input identified several “critical gaps” and focus areas. Planners developed strategies for each. It provides specific actions, agency involvement, and a difficulty rating for each strategy. This information helps guide communities without mandating a one-size-fits-all approach. These strategies include:
- Improve Physical Infrastructure. One of the plan’s key recommendations is to support the creation of separated bicycle infrastructure. This will make it easier and safer for e-bike riders to travel across city lines without sudden gaps in protection. With funding support and technical guidance, OCTA aims to coordinate countywide efforts for consistent bike infrastructure.
- Tracking Trends & Preventing Crashes. The plan identifies three strategies to “shift” to implement solutions before accidents occur: (1) standardize existing crash reporting across the county; (2) improve the data set by crowd sourcing “near miss” reports (along with hazards and bike thefts); (3) expand how OCTA identifies riding risk “hot spots” where narrow lanes or tricky intersections need to be redesigned.
- Education for Every Age. Cyclists of different ages have different needs. For example, a general call to “limit speed” isn’t enough for young riders who don’t know how to brake safely or judge stopping distance. Thus, OCTA’s plan calls for age-appropriate education. Humorous videos, such as this playful safety video and others (see video vault below), can reach teens and older users, and Safe Routes to School “e-bike rodeos” for youth. The plan also includes dedicated actions to support older adults, acknowledging the physical challenges that come with age.
- Education for Each Community. Different communities will also have different cycling needs. OCTA’s plan seeks to provide sufficient resources for a variety of strategies. Thus, if Huntington Beach High wants to require a skills test before students get campus parking for e-bikes, the plan shows where to start. If Laguna Niguel wonders how other cities define “Class 3” speed limits on trails, OCTA has resources to answer the question.
- Retailers as Safety Promoters. Step into a typical bike shop and you’ll find plenty of e-bikes for sale, but little guidance on local safety rules. Thus, education efforts extend to offering educational materials to customers and free safety training to employees so they can share correct information at the point of sale.
- Funding the Vision. Regional projects that connect networks should be encouraged. OCTA proposes to apply for program funding and help local agencies compete for state and federal grants. The Active Transportation Program, Safe Streets and Roads for All, and Clean Mobility Options Pilot Program are among the listed sources.
Meeting the Demands of the Network
Like the rest of California, Orange County is experiencing a sharp rise in e-bike use, which brings both opportunities and challenges to the region’s transportation system. Local agencies, schools, and law enforcement have expressed growing concern over safety incidents, inconsistent policies, and a lack of accessible educational resources.
The OCTA E-Bike Safety Action Plan was a response to these needs. It offers a countywide framework that helps communities address current safety gaps while preparing for continued growth in e-bike ridership. The goal is simple: empower residents to choose e-bikes with confidence, knowing the tools, policies, and infrastructure are in place to support them.
VIDEO VAULT: About Those Clever Videos
OCTA has also produced a number of humorous videos that are funny and watchable that help underscore the themes fleshed out in the Action Plan. Here are some of our favorites.
- E-bikes in the Suburban Wild (New). A short BBC-worthy spoof on the wildlife documentary captures e-bike riders learning to share paths with cars and pedestrians, complete with a solid David Attenborough impersonation. (Round Planet)
- Goodboy Noah. Internet personality and host of Goodboy and Noah Host a Kids Show demonstrates the perils of not riding safely (E-bike Safety with Good Boy Noah)
- The Talk. A father has “the talk” with his teenage son that takes a turn. (The Talk)
- Gaming Hack. Gamers should always know the rules, including how to pass a cyclist inside of a video game. (Play it Safe)
- Safe Space. What would your life be like without safe space? (3 Feet for Safety)
- Cyclelogical Support Group. A rag tag collection of e-bikes talks about how they need protection from their riders (Chasing Speed and Rise Up)
More Resources
- E-Bike Safety Action Plan, OCTA (June 2025)
- Orange County Bike Overview, OCTA
- E-bikes, OCTA
- Electric Bikes Are Emerging as Public Health Hazard, American College of Surgeons
- E-bikes in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
- State by State Electric Bike Laws, PeopleForBikes
Note: This piece was developed by our exceptional intern, Kyra Manley, as one of many projects she tackled with us—we’re grateful for her contributions and excited to see where her career journey takes her next.
