Every single time we come home from visiting a walkable city, we say the same thing: “We’re going to use the car less.”
We live in Long Beach! We can walk almost anywhere. And what do we do the minute we get home? Hop right back in the car and drive three blocks. Three. Blocks.
And let’s be honest, we’re not the only ones. A lot of us drive two miles to Second Street, circle the block hunting for parking, and then walk three blocks anyway. California car culture is real, and it’s a little embarrassing, because we live in an awesome city where you can walk or bike to so many places. And on an e-bike? It barely takes any effort at all.
Long Beach thinks there’s a better way, too. Next year, Long Beach Bike Share starts adding about 700 pedal-assist e-bikes, with up to 2,000 on the road by the end of a new three-year contract worth up to $25.7 million.
That’s a lot of e-bikes. And a lot of money. (More on that price tag in a minute. Grab your popcorn.)
So we have to ask: could an e-bike actually replace your car in Long Beach?
The Best Long Beach E-Bike Routes (and a Couple I’d Skip)
Here’s my honest, born-and-raised take on where Long Beach e-bikes shine, and where you might want to rethink your life choices.
Belmont Shore to Downtown: Easy. Hop on the beach bike path and take it all the way. Ocean on one side, zero parking meters in sight. Want more of a neighborhood ride? Take Second Street instead and people-watch the whole way.
Belmont Heights to Retro Row: Easy. A gorgeous little trek through some of the best neighborhoods in the city. Coffee on Fourth Street, no circling the block for parking.
Naples to Belmont Shore (and visa versa): Almost too easy. And here’s my pro tip: this is THE move for the Naples Island Boat Parade and the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade on Second Street. Streets close, parking vanishes, and you’ll roll right up while everyone else is still hunting for a spot.
Bluff Heights to the Peninsula: The summer move. Pack a backpack with snacks and drinks, hop on the beach bike path and ride it all the way to the end, then roll onto the Peninsula for a day of swimming and sunshine on the bay side. Not summer? Go anyway. The Peninsula is the perfect spot any time of year to park your bike and stroll the beach.
Cal State Long Beach to Belmont Shore: Easier than it sounds. Once you get across Seventh Street and PCH, head down Bellflower Boulevard, take Colorado Street through the Colorado Lagoon area, then cruise down Nieto Avenue into the Shore. Easy ride.
Bixby Knolls: Stay in the neighborhood. Bixby Knolls to Downtown is doable, but I probably wouldn’t try to conquer it. Too many busy streets. The better ride? From the south end of Bixby Knolls up to the north end.
East Long Beach: Getting better by the minute. Studebaker Road is under major construction right now and getting new, wider protected bike lanes, which makes East Long Beach and the El Dorado Park area a lot more bike-friendly. The city expects the work to wrap up in early 2027.
Now, the honest part. If you’re hauling groceries for your family, driving the kids to practice across town or heading out in an El Niño downpour, the car is probably still winning. And where you live changes everything. If you’re in Belmont Shore, this all sounds dreamy. If you’re in North Long Beach, you might be rolling your eyes right now. Both are fair, and that’s kind of the whole debate.
Long Beach E-Bike Rules, Minus the Legal Jargon
You don’t need a law degree to ride an e-bike in Long Beach. Here’s the short version:
- Streets and bike lanes: Go for it.
- Sidewalks: It depends on your bike. The fast e-bikes (the ones that go up to 28 mph) are banned from every sidewalk in Long Beach, period. The slower ones can ride on some residential sidewalks, as long as you keep it at 15 mph or under. And no sidewalk riding at all in business districts like Second Street or Downtown, or next to schools, churches and playgrounds. Honestly? Just stay off the sidewalk. The neighbors walking their dogs will thank you.
- The beach bike path: 20 mph max, and the fast 28 mph e-bikes aren’t allowed on it.
- Helmets: Required if you’re under 18, and for anyone on one of the fast e-bikes. You also have to be at least 16 to ride one of those.
Parents, a quick heads-up. That “e-bike” your teenager is begging for might not be an e-bike at all. If it doesn’t really need pedals or it’s super powerful, California may treat it like a moped or motorcycle, which can mean a license and registration. Do your homework before it ends up under the tree.
Rules are still changing, so check the city’s Go Active Long Beach page before you ride.
Want to Try a Long Beach E-Bike Before You Buy?
You don’t have to drop a couple grand to find out if e-bike life is for you.
Long Beach Bike Share. Those light blue bikes in racks around town? Still here, and you can grab one through the app at longbeachbikeshare.com. The new e-bikes, which top out at 16 mph, start showing up next year in the same app. E-bike pricing hasn’t been set yet, but current memberships will carry over, and the $5-a-year Bikeshare for All membership for income-qualified residents is sticking around.
Ask about borrowing one for free. Long Beach has run a free E-Bike Lending Library that lets residents borrow a commuter, cargo or trike e-bike for up to three months. Most bikes are set aside for income-qualified residents, and borrowers are picked by lottery. Check the E-Bike Lending Library page or email [email protected] to see if a new round is open.
Shop Local: Long Beach E-Bike Shops and Rentals
Ready to ride? Skip the big-box store and support these local spots.
Wheel Fun Rentals at Shoreline Village Rent an e-bike right on the water and take the beach path toward Belmont Pier or Naples. Helmets, locks and maps come free with rentals, and they validate parking in the Shoreline Village lot. 429 Shoreline Village Drive, Suite G, Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 951-3857 · wheelfunrentals.com
The Kit E-Bikes An e-bike shop on PCH for sales and repairs. 5107 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Long Beach, CA 90804 (562) 844-9144 · Yelp
Pedal Movement The Long Beach company that has run our bike share since 2017 also does repairs, sales and rentals in the heart of Downtown. 223 E. First St., Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 436-2453 https://www.pedalmovement.com
So Why Is Long Beach Spending $25.7 Million on This?
Okay, here’s the tea.
On Oct. 6, the City Council voted 5-3 to hand our bike share program to Drop Mobility, a company based in San Francisco and Toronto. That means replacing Pedal Movement, the hometown company that has run it since 2017. Councilmembers Megan Kerr, Mary Zendejas and Cindy Allen voted no, and the council chamber was packed with Pedal Movement workers and supporters worried about local jobs.
Drop edged out Pedal Movement in the city’s scoring, even after Pedal got a bonus for being local. City staff said Drop came in about $4.7 million cheaper in the first year. To be fair, Drop also agreed to offer interviews to Pedal Movement employees and move its Southern California facility from La Mirada to Long Beach. And of course, this is tied to the 2028 Olympics, because what isn’t right now?
Here’s the part that matters to you. Long Beach Bike Share recorded more than 79,000 rentals in 2025. Drop projects ridership could jump as much as 500% by year three if the city runs the full fleet. That ridership is supposed to help pay for the program. If it doesn’t? The rest comes out of Measure A sales tax money.
So whether this is a smart investment or a $25.7 million oops really comes down to one thing: whether we actually ride them. The Long Beach Post has the full story on the vote.
So, Could an E-Bike Replace Your Car in Long Beach?
Probably not entirely. But could it replace that three-block drive? The trip to Second Street? Dinner Downtown? A Saturday afternoon at the beach? A coffee run to Retro Row? Absolutely.
As for us? We’re going to try. For real this time.
Now it’s your turn. Would you actually ride one of the new Long Beach e-bikes? What’s the one car trip you’d swap? Or is $25.7 million on bike share a hard no? Tell us in the comments, and don’t hold back.
FAQs on E-Bikes in Long Beach California
Can you ride an e-bike on the sidewalk in Long Beach?
Sometimes. The fast e-bikes (up to 28 mph) are banned from all sidewalks. Slower e-bikes can use some residential sidewalks at 15 mph or under, but never in business districts like Second Street or Downtown, or next to schools, churches and playgrounds.
Can you ride an e-bike on the Long Beach beach bike path?
Yes, at up to 20 mph. The fast 28 mph e-bikes aren’t allowed on the path.
Do you need a helmet to ride an e-bike in Long Beach?
If you’re under 18, yes. Anyone riding one of the fast e-bikes needs a helmet too, and has to be at least 16.
Where can I rent an e-bike in Long Beach?
Wheel Fun Rentals at Shoreline Village rents e-bikes right on the water. Long Beach Bike Share adds e-bikes next year.
When are the new Long Beach Bike Share e-bikes coming?
About 700 arrive next year, with up to 2,000 by the end of the three-year contract. They’ll show up in the same Bike Share app.
How much will the new bike share e-bikes cost to ride?
Pricing hasn’t been set yet. The $5-a-year Bikeshare for All membership for income-qualified residents is staying.
