Orange County e-bike registry launches as safety push grows

A free e-bike safety and compliance registry has launched as an Orange County pilot program aimed at students, parents, schools and police, Voice of OC reported.

The rollout comes as state lawmakers pursue a standardized e-bike safety program for students in grades 7 to 12 and as Children’s Hospital of Orange County reported youth e-bike trauma activations rising to 201 in 2025.

RidePermit asks riders to complete a safety course, pass a quiz and register online for a free digital ID tied to information including age, school, parent contact details, bike model, bike class and district permission status, according to Voice of OC. An optional sticker decal costs $25.

Anthony Bright, founder and CEO of RidePermit, told Voice of OC the program is meant to help riders understand local rules before they get on the road. "When I ride on the road, it’s dangerous. The kids need to be aware of what the rules are," Bright said.

Schools and school resource officers can use the dashboard to add local rules and record incidents involving violations, according to Voice of OC. Bright said a single system could help officials compare incidents by district and age group: "If we had all the kids using one platform, all the data for the state is there," he said.

The effort is moving alongside AB 1569, which would direct the State Department of Education and California Highway Patrol to create a standardized e-bike safety and training program for students in grades 7 to 12. The bill passed the Senate 39-0 after earlier passing the Assembly, but had not yet been signed by the governor, Voice of OC reported.

Assemblymember Laurie Davies, R-Laguna Niguel, told Voice of OC that different local rules create challenges for young riders. "In my district, you can actually get onto your e-bike and go through at least four different cities within 30 minutes, and each city has different rules," Davies said. "Having standardized education, they’ll know that this fits wherever they’re riding their bike."

A Ladera Ranch family was the first to register before the July 31 launch, Voice of OC reported, as local officials and schools look for ways to respond to rising youth e-bike injuries and enforcement concerns.