San Diego's E-Bike Safety Concerns Highlight Inadequate Bike Infrastructure, Experts Assert
San Diego County is facing criticism from bike advocates and experts regarding its insufficient bike infrastructure, which they argue is a primary factor in e-bike related injuries and deaths. Despite a rapid increase in e-bike adoption, particularly among minors, local officials have primarily responded by enacting stricter e-bike ordinances, including age restrictions and administrative citations for reckless riding. A UC San Diego study and a San Diego County grand jury report both underscore the critical need for safer bike infrastructure, noting that existing bike lanes are often disconnected and lack physical protection from vehicle traffic. Only 264 of the county's 1,883.5 miles of bike lanes are classified as Class I or IV, which are the safest types, physically separated from roadways. The most common type, Class II, offers less separation and no physical protection. 
