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Davis, CA Mobility & Curb Rules: E-Bike Classes (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Speed limit
15 mph cap for share-program e-bikes/scooters
Permit
Business permit required, city sets operator count
Impoundment
Operator owes costs within 30 days
Helmet
Required by state law for riders under 18
Enforcement
Article 1.02 criminal, civil or administrative penalties

Summary

Davis caps electric bicycles and scooters offered through its permitted bike- and scooter-share program at 15 mph. Section 6.05.170 requires operators to equip shared devices with software that cuts motor assistance at that speed, and to tell customers about the parking and helmet rules layered on top of state bicycle law.

Shared micromobility devices that are electric bicycles and scooters as defined in California Vehicle Code shall be equipped with software or other mechanisms to prevent the motor from providing assistance when the device's speed exceeds fifteen miles per hour. ... Within the downtown, customers shall properly secure shared micromobility device bicycles to racks, and shall not leave a shared micromobility device bicycle unattended and lying on its side on any portion of a sidewalk, street or highway so as to obstruct pedestrian or vehicular travel. Shared micromobility devices parked outside of downtown are permitted to park on the street perpendicular to the curb, like a motorcycle.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4915048; v22 updated 2026-05-19).

Full Breakdown

170 is the only local rule that names electric bicycles by speed. 010 as a bicycle, electric bicycle, or scooter made available through a digital app by a permitted operator, must run software that cuts motor assistance above 15 mph. 020, and the city decides in its sole discretion how many operators to allow. Riders must follow the same city ordinances and state bicycle law that apply to any bicycle, and anyone under 18 is required by state law to wear a helmet. Downtown, share bikes must be locked to a rack rather than left lying on a sidewalk; outside downtown, they may park perpendicular to the curb like a motorcycle.

150. 02. Personally owned electric bicycles ridden outside the share program are not separately classified by the Davis code: California's Class 1, 2, and 3 designations and the state rules on where each class may ride govern those bikes instead.

Violations & Fines

Operating a shared micromobility business without a permit, or failing to speed-limit devices to 15 mph, exposes the operator to criminal, civil and administrative penalties under Article 1.02, and Article 6.05 violations are declared a public nuisance. The city may impound an obstructing or unsafe device immediately; the operator owes impoundment costs within 30 days, and failing to pay can mean permit suspension or revocation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Davis limit e-bike speed?
Yes, but only for bikes and scooters offered through the city's permitted bike-share and scooter-share program. Section 6.05.170 requires those devices to be equipped with software that stops the motor from assisting once the rider reaches 15 mph, a limit set specifically for shared fleets rather than personally owned electric bicycles.
Where can I park a shared e-bike in Davis?
Downtown, you must secure it to a bicycle rack rather than leave it lying on the sidewalk, obstructing pedestrians or vehicles. Outside downtown, shared bikes may be parked on the street perpendicular to the curb, the way a motorcycle parks, under Section 6.05.170(b)(2).
What happens if a shared bike is left blocking a sidewalk?
The city can impound it immediately if it obstructs the sidewalk or creates a safety concern under Section 6.05.150. The operator, not the rider, must reimburse the city's impoundment costs within 30 calendar days, and repeated failures can lead to suspension or revocation of the operator's business permit.
Do Davis's e-bike rules apply to my own e-bike?
No. Article 6.05 regulates only devices offered through a permitted shared-mobility business. A privately owned electric bicycle is governed by California's statewide Class 1, 2, and 3 rules on where each class may operate, not by this city ordinance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Davis

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All Davis rules

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