Electric Bikes In LA County: Laws, Tips & Where To Stop Along The Way
Electric bicycles are gaining in popularity all over the country, and Los Angeles is no exception. Angelinos are notorious for relying primarily on cars for transportation. L.A. County has taken initiatives to encourage more bicycling for transportation, and electric bikes Los Angeles can make that much more practical because the battery-powered motor makes pedaling easier on steep hills and over long distances. If you’re interested in riding an electric bike in L.A., here is some valuable guidance.
Laws
Under California law, electric bikes are not considered motor vehicles. This means that there is no need to carry liability insurance on your bike, nor do you need to get a special license. However, you do need to learn the rules regarding e-bikes in a particular area. Generally speaking, if you ride an e-bike within the city, you have to ride in the street. Los Angeles makes a few exceptions for designated bike areas, but generally speaking, e-bikes on bike paths or in bike lanes are prohibited.
In most cases, e-bikes are treated similarly under state laws as standard bikes. One notable exception is that there are age limits on electric bicycles that require riders to be over the age of 16. It is required of all e-bike riders to wear a helmet.
Tips
One of the first questions that many new riders ask is, “How many miles can an electric bike go?” The answer depends on a lot of complicated factors, such as the power of the motor and whether you use the motor for pedal-assist only or ride full throttle. On average, your electric bicycle may be able to take you between 30 and 50 miles on one battery charge.
Many of the same safety precautions that riders of standard bicycles must follow apply to e-bikes as well. Because you usually must ride your e-bike in the street rather than in bike lanes and paths, it is especially important to make sure that you ride with traffic and follow all other rules of the road. You should make yourself visible to others by wearing bright colors and reflectors by day and turning your lights on at night. You should also be prepared to alert others to your presence by having a bell or a horn. Some riders have the former for pedestrians and the latter for cars.
Where To Ride
Electric bicycles are equally as good for recreational riding as for transportation. With the greater freedom that an e-bike can provide, you may want to check out some destinations that were difficult to access without one.
If you start in Downtown Los Angeles, it is an easy matter to get to nearby Elysian Park. Once you get there, the trail is a little challenging because of the hilly terrain. The hills are not particularly steep, however; the challenge lies in the fact that there is little flat terrain between them.
Griffith Park is a famous recreation area that offers over 70 miles of bike trails. You probably won’t be able to ride them all in one trip, but you can keep coming back to explore new sections while enjoying wonderful city views.
The popularity of electric bikes in Los Angeles shows no signs of slowing down. Purchasing an e-bike from an online retailer provides you with a wide selection at reasonable prices.
