U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will bar bicycles, e-bikes, scooters, electric scooters, and similar personal transport devices from vehicle inspection lanes at the Calexico ports of entry starting Monday, June 15, 2026. Travelers using those devices must instead cross through pedestrian inspection areas, where they will be screened and processed separately.
The new rule applies to any device not legally authorized for use on public roads. CBP said the change is intended “to enhance safety for both travelers and CBP personnel and reduce the risk of accidents in high-traffic vehicle processing areas.”
Who the New Rule Affects
The policy targets the large number of cross-border commuters and visitors who ride e-bikes and scooters between Mexicali and Calexico daily. The Calexico ports of entry handle thousands of northbound crossings each day, and mixing small, low-speed personal devices with cars and trucks in the same lanes has posed a growing safety concern.
Calexico has two ports of entry: Calexico West, located downtown, and Calexico East, about four miles to the east. Both crossings connect directly to Mexicali, the capital of Baja California. CBP’s announcement covers both facilities.
What Riders Should Do
CBP is asking all affected travelers to plan for additional crossing time. Pedestrian lanes typically have their own wait times, and adding e-bike and scooter riders to those lines could increase delays in the short term. The agency urged riders to review the new pedestrian-lane procedures before arriving at the port.
Current pedestrian wait times at Calexico West can be checked on CBP’s Border Wait Times website (bwt.cbp.gov). Standard pedestrian processing at Calexico West often runs 30 to 60 minutes during peak morning hours.
A Broader Trend
The Calexico rule comes as Mexican authorities are also tightening regulations on electric personal transport. New federal rules published earlier this year classify faster e-bikes and scooters as motor vehicles, requiring registration, plates, and a valid license. Those regulations restrict such devices from bike lanes and sidewalks, pushing them into main traffic lanes on secondary roads.
For anyone crossing regularly between Mexicali and Calexico on an e-bike or scooter, the June 15 deadline leaves less than a week to adjust travel plans. Riders should expect to dismount at the border and proceed through pedestrian processing with their device in hand.
The policy was first reported by The Baja Post.