A county at war with e-bikes

Orange County has taken the hardest line in California on unsafe electric bikes and e-motos, citing a spike in injuries and at least one pedestrian death. It has even threatened to arrest parents.

Now a buyback, no questions

The county is borrowing the gun buyback playbook for unwanted e-bikes, pocket bikes, e-scooters and e-motos. Turn one in, walk away with a gift card, nobody asks where it came from.

“unwanted e-bikes, pocket bikes, e-scooters, and e-motos”

The DA's pitch

District Attorney Todd Spitzer frames it as saving lives, and wants illegal and modified vehicles out of the hands of riders he says should not be on them.

“These vehicles are not child's play, and the consequences are incredibly dangerous and increasingly deadly.”

Advocates say it's too broad

Plenty of e-bikes are perfectly legal. Cyclists point out that crash data from UC San Diego and state records ties many wrecks to fast, license-required e-motorcycles, not slower e-bicycles.

“Orange County says it wants them all.”

What a bike is worth

Sunday, Sept. 13 at Angel Stadium, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pocket bikes fetch $200; e-bikes and e-motos earn more by class and power, up to $1,000 in Target, Walmart or Dick's cards.

Part of a bigger crackdown

The buyback follows the RIDE SAFELY task force in May and an August registry pilot. Sacramento is moving too, with bills on teen rider education and honest labeling at the point of sale.