La Mesa is moving ahead with a new e-bike safety pilot program after the City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve local rules under Assembly Bill 2234, a 2024 state law that gives San Diego County cities temporary authority to adopt stricter regulations.

According to East County Magazine, the ordinance bars children under 12 from operating Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes in La Mesa and keeps Class 3 e-bikes limited to riders 16 and older. La Mesa police will issue warnings for the first 60 days, then violations can be cited as infractions with fines that may be waived if the rider completes a city-approved safety course.

The new ordinance is part of a broader countywide push to respond to reckless riding concerns, especially involving younger riders on faster bikes. East County Magazine reported that other cities already taking action include Santee, Poway, San Marcos, Carlsbad, Coronado and Chula Vista.

That regional context is what makes the vote relevant for Santee families. Even though this week’s action happened in La Mesa, it signals that East County cities are moving in the same direction on e-bike enforcement, youth safety and school-area education. Parents in Santee should expect the local conversation around rider age, helmets and enforcement to keep growing as more neighboring cities adopt similar rules.

The county pilot program runs through Jan. 1, 2029. For now, La Mesa officials say the focus will be on education first, then enforcement, as schools, nonprofits and bicycle safety partners roll out training materials and public outreach.