20 eBike Shops in Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Cruz County has 20 eBike shop listings across five cities. Santa Cruz leads with 14. Aptos and Scotts Valley have 2 each, and Soquel and Watsonville have 1 each. The cards include bicycle shops, repair shops, rental services, one sporting goods store, and Temper Bicycle Works, which is listed as an electric bicycle store in Santa Cruz.
The best known riding fact here is the Coastal Rail Trail. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission plans it to span 32 miles of coast in 20 segments, and finished pieces already carry riders in Santa Cruz. Not every segment is open yet. Route details are in Things to do on an eBike in Santa Cruz County.
Things to do on an eBike in Santa Cruz County
eBike shops by city
These 20 listings are grouped by city, with Santa Cruz first because it holds 14 of them. Each card shows the shop category, so you can tell sales, rentals and repair apart.
Where to ride in Santa Cruz County
The Coastal Rail Trail is the spine of eBike riding here. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission manages it as part of the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail Network. It is planned to cover 32 miles of the county coast in 20 segments, and only some pieces are built. No trail specific eBike rule was found for the finished segments, so the California default applies. Read the posted signs at each trailhead. The commission's Monterey Bay Sanctuary Scenic Trail page shows how the segments fit together and which are built.
Inside the city of Santa Cruz, the City manages the Coastal Rail Trail segments. Segment 7 Phase I is a paved multi-use trail of 1.2 miles from Natural Bridges Drive to Bay and California streets, 12 to 16 feet wide. The San Lorenzo River Trestle Trail is a 10-foot-wide elevated path near Beach Street and 3rd Street. No City eBike ordinance or class restriction was found, so state rules apply. The City of Santa Cruz Coastal Rail Trail page covers the project status.
Two longer pieces sit outside the city limits. The North Coast Rail Trail is Segment 5, a 7.5-mile multi-use trail from Wilder Ranch State Park to Davenport, and it is still under construction by the Regional Transportation Commission. Segments 10 and 11 are about 4.2 miles of paved asphalt path from 17th Avenue in Live Oak to State Park Drive in Seacliff, per the County. No eBike rule was found for either. Follow the North Coast Rail Trail construction updates before planning a ride.
One county rule matters for every rider. Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 9.54, adopted in 2024, bars eBikes from sidewalks in the County's jurisdiction unless the sidewalk is also a bikeway. Exceptions cover sidewalks with no pedestrians present and no bikeway along the route, and sidewalks the County has authorized and posted. Violations are infractions, and the ordinance text is in Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 9.54. Check which jurisdiction you are in, since city sidewalks are not covered by the County code.
eBike rules in California
California defines an eBike in Vehicle Code 312.5. It has working pedals and a motor of 750 watts or less. Class 1 is pedal-assist only, and assist stops at 20 mph. Class 2 has a throttle, and the motor gives no help at 20 mph. Class 3 is pedal-assist that stops at 28 mph, and it must have a speedometer. Class 1 and 3 bikes can have a walk mode up to 3.7 mph. Bikes built or modified to go past 20 mph on motor alone, or past 750 watts, or with the pedals removed, are not eBikes under this law.
eBike riders follow the same rules as bicycle riders. Vehicle Code 21207.5 sets who can close paths and trails to eBikes. Local authorities can ban eBikes, or any class, on equestrian, hiking or recreational trails by ordinance. State Parks can do the same on any path or trail it manages. Since AB 1909 took effect on January 1, 2023, there is no statewide Class 3 path ban. Under Vehicle Code 21213, riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3.
Class 3 riders and passengers must wear a helmet on the street, a bikeway or a public path. Since January 1, 2026, Vehicle Code 21212 (AB 544) requires a helmet for anyone under 18, including eBike riders. The first charge is dismissed, and the fine is $25 or less. The citation is waived if the rider has a helmet and finishes a bicycle safety course or an eBike safety course within 120 days. We found no license or registration rule for eBikes that meet the class definitions. The City of Newport Beach notes that Sur-Ron and Segway-type bikes are treated as motorcycles. Read the full rundown at California eBike laws.
Cities in Santa Cruz County
Most listings are in Santa Cruz, so start with eBike shops in Santa Cruz, which has 14. Then try eBike shops in Aptos and eBike shops in Scotts Valley, with 2 each. Single listings are in eBike shops in Soquel and eBike shops in Watsonville.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ride an eBike on the sidewalk in Santa Cruz County?
Mostly no, because County Code Chapter 9.54 bars eBikes on sidewalks in the County's jurisdiction unless the sidewalk is also a bikeway. Exceptions apply where no pedestrians are present and no bikeway exists along your route, and on sidewalks the County has authorized and posted, and violations are infractions. City streets may differ, so read local signs.
Are there eBike rentals in Santa Cruz County?
Yes, the directory lists rental and tour cards for Ebikescruz, Gazelle Bikes Experience Center - Santa Cruz, Specialized Santa Cruz Experience Center, and Scotts Valley Cycle Sport. Prices, hours and helmet policies are not published here, so call the shop before you go.
Which shop is listed as an electric bicycle store?
Temper Bicycle Works in Santa Cruz is the one card categorized as an electric bicycle store. The other cards are mostly bicycle shops (11), repair shops (4), rental services (3), and one sporting goods store. Many bicycle shops still sell or service eBikes, so ask first.
Can I ride an eBike on the Coastal Rail Trail?
No eBike specific rule was found for the Coastal Rail Trail segments, so the California default applies. That means eBikes are treated like bicycles on most paths. Local signs can still restrict use, and some segments are unfinished. Check each segment on the manager map before riding. See eBike shops in Santa Cruz for gear.
How old do you have to be to ride an eBike?
Under California law, riders under 16 may not operate a Class 3 eBike. Class 3 riders and passengers must wear a helmet. Anyone under 18 must wear a bicycle helmet on streets, bikeways and paths. The fine is up to $25, and it can be waived if the rider completes a safety course.
Where can I get an eBike repaired in the county?
Four listings are categorized as bicycle repair shops, and many of the 11 bicycle shops also service bikes. Most are in Santa Cruz, where 14 of the 20 listings sit. Browse eBike shops in Santa Cruz and call ahead about motor and battery work.
