One of Ronald Reagan’s best quotations described the nature of government: “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” It reminds us of California governments’ approach to e-bikes. The state has viewed them as a boon that could reduce our dependence on automobiles and by extension help meet its climate goals. The latter expectation is overstated, but e-bikes are a great trend in mobility.

More than half of all car trips are under three miles, so these cost-effective electrified bicycles provide a useful alternative. They also are particularly beneficial for children and teen-agers, who can get to school or around town without relying on their parents. Until recently, the state even subsidized e-bike purchases, but wisely pulled the plug on that costly and overburdened program. We like e-bikes, but people should buy their own.

But getting back to Reagan, governments can’t help but overregulate the same technology that they’re so eager to promote. For instance, Irvine recently passed a preliminary e-bike law that strikes us as needlessly heavy handed. It’s the latest Orange County city to do so. The Irvine rules, per the VoiceofOC, would impose speed limits, higher fines, potential impoundment and rules that hold parents responsible for illegal riding by their children.

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The state has a host of e-bike laws and keeps passing new ones. There are legitimate concerns that localities need to handle, namely dealing with riders who drive at high speeds on sidewalks. But police can simply enforce existing state law. We can’t understand why Irvine is passing anti-modification rules when state law already forbids such tampering. A more positive approach would be to provide more bike lanes for riders.

We don’t have a problem with cities enforcing some sensible rules and reminding e-bike riders that they have a responsibility to be respectful of pedestrians and those who use traditional bicycles. Still, we worry that in their zeal to regulate, cities are tamping down on the core benefit of these e-bikes: providing people with that wonderful freedom of travel.