A field guide to getting there without the gas.
Hills, grip and range
A few blocks can change the ride completely here. Map the climbs and try the descents with your usual load before settling on a route. For an e-bike, useful gears and a mid-drive are worth considering, along with a shop that can maintain them. For a scooter, pay attention to how it climbs slowly and how the brakes feel downhill.
Fog, wet rails and painted surfaces can make a mild-looking day slippery. Wind is more noticeable on exposed stretches, too. Try the trip at commute time and keep the tires at the recommended pressure. On days you can't see or grip well enough, take transit.
California rules for each kind of ride
Scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Ride | Definition and operation | Age and helmet |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 e-bike | Fully operable pedals, motor no more than 750 watts, pedal-only assist ending at 20 mph. Cal. Veh. Code 312.5. | California's class-specific all-rider helmet and minimum-age rule applies to Class 3, not Class 1; other youth bicycle helmet rules may still apply. Cal. Veh. Code 21212-21213. |
| Class 2 e-bike | Throttle may propel without pedaling, but assistance ends at 20 mph; motor remains no more than 750 watts. Cal. Veh. Code 312.5. | Check the general youth bicycle helmet rule and posted local restrictions; do not transfer the Class 3 rule to every e-bike. Cal. Veh. Code 21212-21213. |
| Class 3 e-bike | Pedal assist ends at 28 mph and the bike must have a speedometer. Cal. Veh. Code 312.5. | Operator must be 16 or older; operator and passenger must wear a qualifying bicycle helmet. Cal. Veh. Code 21213. |
| Motorized scooter | Maximum operating speed is 15 mph. No sidewalk riding except to enter or leave adjacent property; a valid license or instruction permit is required. Highways over 25 mph require a Class II or IV bikeway unless local action allows otherwise up to 35 mph. Cal. Veh. Code 21235. | A rider under 18 must wear a qualifying bicycle helmet. Cal. Veh. Code 21235(c). |
| Electric skateboard | California defines an electrically motorized board narrowly: one rider, floorboard no larger than 60 by 18 inches, average power under 1,000 watts and device maximum no more than 20 mph. Cal. Veh. Code 313.5. | For a qualifying board on a highway, bikeway, public path, sidewalk or trail, the operator must be at least 16, wear a qualifying helmet and stay at 15 mph or less. Highway use is limited to roads posted 35 mph or less unless the rider remains entirely in a Class II or IV bikeway. Cal. Veh. Code 21291-21294. |
| Onewheel or EUC | These California definitions don't identify which category covers each Onewheel or EUC model. Cal. Veh. Code 312.5; 313.5. | Ask SFMTA or the agency running the park about your model. Don't assume the bicycle rules cover it. |
Muni and BART rules differ
Muni allows full-size bikes on front racks, but the racks do not accept motorized bikes, tires wider than three inches or handlebars wider than 42 inches. Only folding bikes may enter Muni Metro and light rail. Folding bicycles and powered or unpowered scooters must remain folded, carried and out of seats and accessible space. SFMTA Bikes on Muni.
BART allows bikes on trains at all times except crowded cars and the first car. Personal folding electric scooters may enter only folded and carried; shared scooters must remain outside. BART bike and scooter rules. The high-end Specialized Turbo Vado SL 2 4.0, at 41 lb with mid-drive assist and a broad retailer network, suits a commute you mostly ride, with somewhere secure to wheel the bike inside. It can't go on Muni Metro. If your trip depends on Muni, the compact Brompton fold is a more practical shape.
Pick the bike that fits the trip
The Specialized makes sense when you ride most of the way, climb hills and don't need to fold it. Its up-to-28 mph assistance puts it in Class 3, so the 16-plus and helmet rules matter. A rack and fenders cost extra. Think about where you'll charge it, too, because the battery is in the frame. Choose the Brompton Electric P Line when compactness, Muni access and office storage matter more than tire volume and speed. The linked P Line variant was unavailable at the last catalog check; ask the dealer which version is available before planning around it.
We recommend Armor-Dilloz Red for puncture protection on rides below 30 mph. Choose the amount for your tires and check what's already inside before adding it. The installation guide covers the tire and tube details. Keep checking pressure, and allow for the occasional flat that needs a repair.
