A 12-year-old Laguna Niguel student is asking local and state leaders to take a harder look at e-bike safety as more young riders take to Orange County streets.
Alex Guess began his campaign after seeing what he described as unsafe riding among kids in his community. He said two of his friends have been seriously injured in e-bike crashes, prompting him to move beyond conversations about safety and start pushing for policy changes.
“I felt like the thoughts and prayers were not enough. We need actual action,” Alex said.
His campaign centers on five proposed changes: setting a minimum riding age of 16, requiring speedometers on e-bikes, creating a county-issued license and safety test, imposing fines on parents or guardians when underage riders violate the rules, and using money from those fines to create a youth e-bike safety fund.
Alex has taken the proposal directly to local governments, speaking at city council meetings and meeting with elected officials around Orange County. His campaign has received support from officials in several communities, including Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, Irvine and San Clemente.
The effort has continued to grow in recent months. The petition, launched in June, had more than 1,300 verified signatures as of the latest update, with supporters from communities throughout Orange County and beyond.
Alex has also received public backing from Laguna Niguel Councilman Ray Gennawey. In a September update, Alex said the campaign had moved from collecting signatures to discussions with local officials and law enforcement, with a meeting with Assemblywoman Laurie Davies planned as part of the effort to pursue broader county-level action.
The push comes as Orange County already has several rules governing e-bike use. In Laguna Niguel, riders are prohibited from operating electric bicycles in an unsafe manner on public property and other areas open to the public. The city’s rules specifically address behaviors such as riding against traffic, ignoring traffic signals, swerving around stopped traffic and riding without a properly fitted helmet for anyone under 18.
County guidance also requires riders under 18 to wear helmets. On county regional bikeways, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are permitted, with a 10-mph speed limit on those bikeways.
State rules already place additional requirements on faster Class 3 e-bikes. Riders must be at least 16, and Class 3 bikes are designed to provide pedal assistance up to 28 mph and are required to have a speedometer.
Alex’s proposal would go further by applying additional restrictions to younger riders and creating a countywide licensing and enforcement system.
For his father, Michael Guess, watching his son take the campaign from his neighborhood to city council chambers has been a source of pride.
“To see him go from door to door to speaking at city council meetings, several in our community so far. And it’s just been incredible,” Michael Guess said.
Alex acknowledges that his ideas have not been universally popular, particularly among other young riders. He said an early version of the proposal received a negative reaction when he first presented it to classmates.
That has not stopped the campaign.
Alex says his goal is not to keep young people from riding e-bikes. Instead, he wants clearer rules and stronger safety measures so children can continue riding while reducing the risks associated with dangerous or inexperienced riding.
As the petition continues to attract signatures, Alex is now seeking more formal commitments from cities and county leaders. His campaign is also looking toward possible countywide policy changes that could give communities a more consistent approach to youth e-bike safety.
