Caught With Your Helmet On

04/27/2026

It was our great honor today to be part of Support our Troops from All from the Heart, an event where we were able to supply helmets to military families, courtesy of Bike Temecula Valley's generous support. AFTH gave us the opportunity to present two bikes out of 34 to these amazing kids as well as gifts for a family. We were also humbled by AFTH's trust in us to host a family who serves with unwavering dedication and sacrifice. The event showcased remarkable camaraderie and support, leaving us deeply moved. The praise to God during the interactions with the families was particularly uplifting.

04/25/2026

Parents, if your child is passing a car or keeping up with traffic, they are NOT going under 20 mph! Track your kids speeds by using apps like Life 360.
Their lives may depend on it!

04/25/2026

California changed its e-bike laws. Twice.

Here's what every parent and rider in Temecula needs to know as of January 2026:

🚨 NEW: ON-THE-SPOT IMPOUNDMENT (AB 875)

If your kid under 16 is caught riding a Class 3 e-bike, deputies can impound it on the spot. No warning. No "ride it home." Gone — and you're paying to get it back.

🚨 NEW: LIGHTS REQUIRED 24/7 (AB 544)

Every e-bike now needs a rear red light or reflector at ALL times — day and night. Your kid's matte-black Sur-Ron with no reflectors? Illegal at 2pm on a Tuesday.

💰 NEW: PARENT LIABILITY HAS A NUMBER

If your kid causes an accident, you're on the hook for up to $56,400 per incident under Civil Code §1714.1. That's before any lawsuit. And most homeowner's policies exclude motorized vehicles — so that number is likely coming out of pocket.

WHAT HASN'T CHANGED:

🚫 Sur-Rons, Talarias, Segway X260s are still e-motorcycles — not e-bikes. Still getting impounded. Still require registration, license, and insurance.

✅ Class 1 & 2 still allowed on most sidewalks — EXCEPT business districts, near schools, bridges, and underpasses.

❌ Class 2 & 3 banned from all city parks. Class 1 allowed only on designated bike trails within or adjacent to parks.

TVUSD UPDATE:

The Safe Riders Program is mandatory for any student who wants to park on campus. Complete the free online module, pass the test, get your registration sticker. No sticker, no parking.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

☑️ Right class for their age
☑️ Helmet — every ride
☑️ Rear light or reflector — day AND night
☑️ Check your insurance policy
☑️ TVUSD Safe Riders course completed if they ride to school

Full breakdown, legal sources, and parent checklist — link in the first comment.

Share this with a Temecula parent. Most people don't know the laws changed. 👇

03/31/2026

This is fantastic!!!

03/31/2026

Knowledge is power.
Knowledge can SAVE your LIFE!

Kind of important 🤔

🚴‍♂️⚡ E-Bikes are everywhere in California — know your class and ride by the rules!

The CHP wants you to enjoy the ride safely. Under California law, e-bikes are classified into 3 types — and they all follow the exact same traffic laws as regular bicycles:

✅ Class 1 — Pedal-assist only (motor stops at 20 mph)
✅ Class 2 — Throttle-assisted (motor stops at 20 mph)
✅ Class 3 — Pedal-assist only (motor stops at 28 mph) — riders must be 16+ and wear a helmet at all times

🚦 Obey the road: Stop at signs & signals, use hand signals, ride in bike lanes (not sidewalks where prohibited), and yield to pedestrians.

🆕 New 2026 rule: All e-bikes must have a red rear reflector OR solid/flashing red light with built-in reflector — on at ALL times, day or night.

Pro tip: Helmets are required for all riders under 18 on any e-bike (and all Class 3 riders regardless of age).

📲 Take our FREE online CHP E-Bike Safety Course at chp.ca.gov (under Programs & Services → Vulnerable Road Users) and share this post to keep our roads safe for everyone!

03/17/2026

🚲💛 Community Partnership in Action! 💛

Another bike was delivered this morning by Caught With Your Helmet On (BTV)!

Bike Temecula Valley (BTV) and Caught With Your Helmet On are proud to be working alongside Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) to help provide bicycles for students in need through TVUSD’s Student Welfare and Success Department under the McKinney-Vento Program.

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Program supports children and youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This includes students living in shelters, motels, cars, or doubled-up with other families. The program helps remove barriers to education by ensuring students have access to essential resources, stability, and opportunities to succeed in school and in life.

Through this partnership, our goal is to provide children with a bike, helmet, and lock, giving them safe and reliable transportation, greater independence, and access to school and community activities.

🚨 We’re looking for sponsors! 🚨
If you or your business would like to help sponsor a bike, helmet, or lock, your support can make a direct and meaningful impact on a child’s life right here in our community. We anticipate each bicycle will cost $150 but will take donations in any amount.

📩 Interested in helping? Please reach out to Bike Temecula Valley or Caught With Your Helmet On to get involved. Contact us at BTV@TVBikecoalition.com or our website at https://www.tvbikecoalition.com/

Together, we can keep kids moving, safe, and supported. 💙🚴‍♀️

Bike Temecula Valley a Bicycle Coalition Caught With Your Helmet On

02/23/2026

As e-bikes become more popular among young riders, severe injuries are increasing. Pediatricians are calling for regulations to protect children.

02/12/2026

The Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department commended these exceptional youngsters for their safety efforts in getting 'Caught With Your Helmet On', which encourages kids to prioritize safety and rewards them for it, because safety starts at home.

02/04/2026

California classifies e-bikes into three classes under Vehicle Code Section 312.5:

Class 1: Pedal-assist only, max 20 mph.
Class 2: Throttle-assisted (no pedaling needed), max 20 mph.
Class 3: Pedal-assist only, max 28 mph (riders must be 16+).

Important rules:

●Riders under 18 must wear a properly fitted helmet (CPSC or ASTM standard).
●No passengers unless the bike is designed for it.
●Follow all traffic laws (stop signs, signals, no sidewalk riding in many areas).
●Modifications (e.g., removing speed limits) can make an e-bike illegal (treated as a motorcycle, requiring license/plates).

CHP offers a free online Electric Bicycle Safety and Training course (accessible via CHP.Ca.Gov, Vulnerable Road Users), which covers these rules and is recommended for riders and parents.

Parents should supervise and educate kids on e-bikes because:

●They’re faster/heavier than regular bikes → higher risk of serious crashes.
●Teens often ride recklessly (wheelies, speeding, groups blocking roads).
●Parents can face liability if kids ride illegally or unsafely.

02/04/2026

Yep I jumped on board!!! Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, proud grandma and founder of “Caught With your Helmet On”. When all the “hats” you wear naturally come together ❤️

12/28/2025

Check out the new e-bike laws. Make sure you AND your kids are in the know 🪖🚲 Also, check out the new CHP requirement if your kids are caught WITHOUT a helmet on!!!
Safety starts at home 🏡

CHP HIGHLIGHTS NEW LAWS FOR 2026 🚨

As we head into the new year, the California Highway Patrol highlights the latest public safety laws passed and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Unless otherwise noted, the laws referenced below take effect January 1, 2026.

-Crimes: Burglary Tools (AB 486, Lackey)
-Electric Bicycles: Required Equipment (AB 544, Davies)
-Off-highway Electric Motorcycles (SB 586, Jones)
-Pedestrian Safety: School Zones: Speed Limits (AB 382, Berman)
-State Highway Work Zone Speed Safety Program (AB 289, Haney)
-Vehicles: Highway Safety (AB 390, Wilson)
-Traffic Safety: Speed Limits (AB 1014, Rogers)
-Vehicle Removal (AB 875, Muratsuchi)
-Electric Bicycles, Powered Mobility Devices and Storage Batteries (SB 1271, Min)
-Autonomous Vehicles (AB 1777, Ting)

For descriptions of these new laws, check out this link: https://bit.ly/3YL8S09

12/26/2025