Marin teen testifies about e-bike safety before state senators

San Rafael resident Amelia Stafford doesn't remember falling off an e-bike in September.

“I don't remember anything, nothing at all, and I haven't really looked into it, to be honest,” she said Wednesday. “To me, biking up and down the block must not have seemed like a big deal.”

Stafford, 15, spent two months in intensive care, underwent brain surgeries and received treatment at five hospitals after the accident. She hopes for a full recovery within a few years.

“I'm going through the worst of it, but I get exhausted very quickly,” Stafford said, describing his experience with “neuronal fatigue.”

She testified Tuesday before the state Senate Transportation Committee in Sacramento during its consideration of an Assembly bill addressing e-bike safety.

“I know my family and friends doubted I would ever return to normal, lift a finger or even survive,” Stafford told senators about his recovery.

Her mother Monica and Dr. John Maa, a Marin County surgeon who treated her, supported her at the hearing.

Assembly Bill 1778, authored by Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael, seeks to create a voluntary pilot program in Marin County. Under this program, participating municipalities and counties could pass laws prohibiting youth under the age of 16 from riding Class 2 e-bikes and requiring users of Class 2 e-bikes to wear helmets.

The county would also be required to report data such as traffic stops and violator citations to the state Legislature by January 2028.

State law says a Class 2 e-bike has a throttle device that can help accelerate the bike up to the legal speed limit of 20 mph.

“With just a thumb press on a handle, a Class 2 e-bike can go from zero to 20 mph in just about 10 seconds,” Connolly told the transportation committee. “While Class 2 e-bikes are regulated not to exceed 20 mph, they are too often modified by users to go at a higher speed.”

Connolly mentioned the severity of injuries reported from e-bikes, similar to those suffered by high-speed vehicles.

California law prohibits minors under the age of 16 from using Class 3 e-bikes, which are pedal-assist bicycles that can travel up to 28 mph.

Connolly initially proposed that AB 1778 be implemented statewide, but later amended the bill to focus only on Marin County.

“We believe that an age limit on operators and collecting more data on this issue will significantly reduce accidents and help ensure our streets remain safe for everyone,” he told the committee .

Connolly's legislation was introduced at a time when the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services has raised concerns about an increase in 911 calls related to injuries caused by e-bikes. The department said the rate of e-bike collisions in Marin is 47 per 100,000 children ages 10 to 15, five times higher than any other age group.

In April, the Marin County civil grand jury recommended that local governments ban youth under 16 from riding Class 2 e-bikes due to safety risks.

AB 1778 was passed by the Assembly in April and is currently being considered by the Senate. Following Stafford's testimony, members of the Senate Transportation Committee unanimously supported the bill.

“It really seems like something so simple and what we need to do,” said Sen. Bill Dodd, a Napa Democrat. “It’s a big step forward.”

Sen. Roger Niello, a Sacramento County Republican, expressed support for the bill. He said wearing a helmet protects him in the event of a bicycle accident.

“I don’t question the helmet requirement for children, but I do a little for adults,” he said. “I think I should be allowed to ride without a helmet if I wanted to be that stupid.”

Niello later said he wanted to see how AB 1778 would affect the number of head injury cases if it became law.

“It is important to treat minor children in Class 2 the same way we do with Class 3,” Niello said.

Stafford said she was surprised by the committee’s unanimous support. She described her testimony as a “huge experience” for her.

“I stepped out of my comfort zone and I couldn’t be happier that I did,” she said.

Stafford plans to return to Terra Linda High School and is taking credit recovery classes so he can graduate with his class. She said her health is improving.

“There are times when I feel completely normal and I can do things like hike and even run, but then my brain reminds me that I'm not there yet,” Stafford said. .

Dr. Matthew Willis, Marin County's public health officer, said he hasn't seen other e-bike injuries as serious as Stafford's.

“I’m not surprised the Assembly bill is moving forward — it’s hard to hear stories like Amelia’s and not feel compelled to act,” he said.

Willis noted that Stafford's experience inspired his staff to take action at the local level.

“Every week I review the latest 911 calls and I always worry that we are seeing another head injury or worse,” he said. “AB 1778 will not eliminate the risk, but it would go a long way toward protecting children from the type of injuries Amelia suffered.”

Following the Senate committee's approval, Connolly said he looks forward to advocating for AB 1778 in the Senate.

“I applaud Amelia’s courage in telling her story and her commitment to raising awareness of the danger of e-bike collisions in order to prevent more accidents like hers,” he said.