Near-misses with a kid whizzing by on an electric bicycle may be a common nuisance these days, but some incidents can end in tragedy.
As a growing number of e-bike related accidents — particularly ones involving children — raise alarm among residents and legislators, two bills that aim to expand e-bike safety in California are on their way to the governor’s desk.
Earlier this week the Legislature passed a proposal that would set up a pilot program in San Mateo County banning children under 12 from riding certain lower-speed e-bikes. Parents or guardians whose children violate the law will be issued a $25 fine. At the end of the pilot, which is scheduled to sunset in 2031, the county must submit a report to the Legislature about the program, including the number of traffic stops initiated for a citation.
Lawmakers introduced the proposal after two children in the county died in separate e-bike accidents, including 4-year-old Ayden Fang. Last year, an SUV struck Fang in Burlingame in a chain-reaction accident triggered by an 11-year-old riding an e-bike.
- Xiaoming Fang, Ayden’s father, at an Assembly hearing: “Ayden’s death was fully preventable. There were multiple responsible parties at multiple points where this could have been avoided. … An 11-year-old should not be riding a motorized vehicle that can go up to 20 miles an hour.”
The other bill would give local governments more authority to set speed limits on bike trails, require e-bike sellers to disclose safety warnings and mandate certain e-bikes to be equipped with speedometers and lights.
Both bills advanced with bipartisan support. But some organizations, such as the transportation advocacy group Streets for All, oppose the measures. In addition to concerns about overpolicing e-bike riders, critics argue that legislators should focus more on building roads that accommodate all types of users, instead of just regulating e-bikes.
Digital Democracy: CalMatters’ Digital Democracy uses the latest technologies to help Californians understand their state government and create more accountability for politicians. Read more from our engagement team.
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Fake poll, legit outrage
A fake poll on the Los Angeles mayoral race duped news outlets and even incumbent Mayor Karen Bass — reigniting worries about election misinformation and online betting schemes, writes CalMatters’ Maya C. Miller.
Last week a group called Median Strategies published a poll showing Bass leading City Councilmember Nithya Raman by double digits. The group also claimed that Bass had wrangled support from voters who previously backed Republican Spencer Pratt.
But after the Los Angeles Times reached out to Median, the group retracted its poll, saying it was fabricated as part of a “short-term social experiment.” By then however, the California Post, other media outlets and Bass’ own campaign drew attention to the survey. On Thursday The Guardian reported that a 21-year-old recent college graduate is behind Median.
Median’s poll triggered some movement in online prediction markets, contributing to speculation that it was intended to manipulate Kalshi and Polymarket.
- Mindy Romero, director of the nonprofit Center for Inclusive Democracy: “This definitely isn’t a research experiment, right? It sounds like an excuse for very bad behavior.”
Where homelessness is decreasing
Homelessness continued to decrease this year in parts of California, but advocates warn of challenges ahead given recent cuts to Medi-Cal and social services, reports CalMatters’ Marisa Kendall.
San Joaquin County cut its total unhoused population by nearly a third compared to 2024. Fresno and Madera counties, which together reported a 34% drop in homelessness compared to last year, appeared to have the largest reduction in the state.
Other places saw upticks: After two years of declines, L.A. County reported a 1% increase this year. Homelessness also increased 13% in Sacramento County from 2024 and 7% in Contra Costa County.
These preliminary figures come from the latest “point-in-time” counts conducted by counties at the start of the year. Though imperfect, the counts help guide policy by providing standardized snapshots of homelessness populations in California and the U.S.
Officials in counties where homelessness dropped credit new state funds that went toward shelter beds and low-income housing. But officials say these gains could be lost due to federal cuts.
And lastly: Major DUI bill gutted
State senators gutted a bill that would have required in-car breathalyzers for anyone convicted of a DUI. The proposal would have been one of California’s most substantial DUI bills in years, and initially received widespread support from other lawmakers and families of drunk driving victims. Read more from CalMatters’ Lauren Hepler and Robert Lewis.
California Voices
CalMatters columnist Dan Walters: Bills related to new regulations, taxes, minimum wages and other costly mandates underscore the perpetual conflict between business and advocates for consumers, workers and the environment.
Two views on Proposition 44, a ballot measure to require more clinic spending on patient care:
The measure would hold clinics accountable for the public dollars they receive, let taxpayers finally see where the money goes and doesn’t limit what clinics can spend on patient care, writes Sandra Carranza, a social worker at a San Diego community clinic.
Prop. 44 would upend health center budgets, push the vast majority of California clinics into the red and force patients to delay treatment, writes Brent Sugimoto, president-elect of the California Academy of Family Physicians.
Other things worth your time:
CA lawmaker Aisha Wahab wins special election to succeed Swalwell in Congress // AP News (free)
Feds seize Swalwell’s devices, search home as part of sexual assault inquiry // The Washington Post (gift link)
Turner’s Outdoorsman is a top source of crime guns in CA’s biggest cities // The Trace (free)
How Trump is trying to crush CA’s environmental policies // The New York Times (gift link)
CA draws more startup investment than all other 49 states combined // The Wall Street Journal (gift link)
Napa Valley’s long-simmering battle against the government is bubbling over // San Francisco Chronicle (gift link)
Legal challenge of new wage rule for foreign guest farmworkers in hands of Fresno judge // The Fresno Bee (paywall)
A rare plant only found near Lake Tahoe looks to a snowy winter for recovery // Abridged (free)
