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Santee, Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Jolla go after underage e-bike riders
Coronado was the first
The state prevents local jurisdictions from banning e-bikes from public roads.
Kids like bikes and kids like tech, so it stands to reason that kids would love e-bikes. But as the accidents pile up, it's becoming clear that grownups don't love kids on e-bikes. They fume in the forums that kids text while riding, ride the wrong way down streets while texting, blow through stop signs, and barrel down sidewalks. And sometimes, what looks like a kid on an e-bike is actually a kid on an e-motorcycle, a machine that can travel up to 60 mph and isn't street-legal.
"Can we get actual literal children off our roads?" one post asks.
In August, a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old riding together on an e-bike in San Marcos suffered major injuries.
More and more cities are trying to do just that by setting age limits for e-bikes, because — as Santee officials noted when they took up the topic last week — it’s the easiest thing to regulate, and stops short of an outright ban. “When the trail system came in 2010, we literally talked about it being a safe passage for bicyclers to utilize," said vice mayor, Rob McNelis. "And now here we are talking about removing bicycles from trails. I am absolutely not in support of that." He added that every weekend, large groups of adults take long trips from Lakeside to San Diego via the trail systems. “They’re responsible adults. They’re not the hell’s angels of the trail system.”
So instead of a ban, Santee’s proposed ordinance for now focuses on age limits, setting aside the thornier issues related to riding in its envisioned entertainment district, where the city hopes to promote walking and biking. Violators would face fines after an initial 60-day warning period, with potential penalties up to $25.
To encourage travel by electric bike, the state prevents local jurisdictions from banning e-bikes from public roads. But their skyrocketing numbers here led to a new law this year that enables cities — and the county — to ban children under 12 from operating Class 1 (pedal-assisted) or Class 2 (throttle-assisted) e-bikes, which can travel 20 mph.
The bill, titled the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, was authored by Encinitas assemblymember Tasha Boerner to address the wave of e-bike accidents in coastal communities such as Encinitas, Carlsbad, and La Jolla. Both Carlsbad and Encinitas have declared local e-bike emergencies. According to the bill, children under 12 make up a disproportionate number of e-bike injuries. It cites one study that found the 10–13 age group made up 44% of e-bike injuries nationwide.
In July, an 8-year-old boy on an electric scooter was killed by a car in Chula Vista. In August, a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old riding together on an e-bike in San Marcos suffered major injuries when they were struck by a car in an intersection.
Coronado was first to pass an ordinance banning riders under 12; the law took effect in January. Chula Vista was next in August. Santee is still fine-tuning its regulations. And today, September 16, Carlsbad will hold a public meeting to discuss a possible minimum age for e-bike use.
Here's something you might be interested in.
Santee, Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Jolla go after underage e-bike riders
Coronado was the first
Santee, Carlsbad, Encinitas, La Jolla go after underage e-bike riders
Coronado was the first
The state prevents local jurisdictions from banning e-bikes from public roads.
Kids like bikes and kids like tech, so it stands to reason that kids would love e-bikes. But as the accidents pile up, it's becoming clear that grownups don't love kids on e-bikes. They fume in the forums that kids text while riding, ride the wrong way down streets while texting, blow through stop signs, and barrel down sidewalks. And sometimes, what looks like a kid on an e-bike is actually a kid on an e-motorcycle, a machine that can travel up to 60 mph and isn't street-legal.
"Can we get actual literal children off our roads?" one post asks.
In August, a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old riding together on an e-bike in San Marcos suffered major injuries.
More and more cities are trying to do just that by setting age limits for e-bikes, because — as Santee officials noted when they took up the topic last week — it’s the easiest thing to regulate, and stops short of an outright ban. “When the trail system came in 2010, we literally talked about it being a safe passage for bicyclers to utilize," said vice mayor, Rob McNelis. "And now here we are talking about removing bicycles from trails. I am absolutely not in support of that." He added that every weekend, large groups of adults take long trips from Lakeside to San Diego via the trail systems. “They’re responsible adults. They’re not the hell’s angels of the trail system.”
So instead of a ban, Santee’s proposed ordinance for now focuses on age limits, setting aside the thornier issues related to riding in its envisioned entertainment district, where the city hopes to promote walking and biking. Violators would face fines after an initial 60-day warning period, with potential penalties up to $25.
To encourage travel by electric bike, the state prevents local jurisdictions from banning e-bikes from public roads. But their skyrocketing numbers here led to a new law this year that enables cities — and the county — to ban children under 12 from operating Class 1 (pedal-assisted) or Class 2 (throttle-assisted) e-bikes, which can travel 20 mph.
The bill, titled the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program, was authored by Encinitas assemblymember Tasha Boerner to address the wave of e-bike accidents in coastal communities such as Encinitas, Carlsbad, and La Jolla. Both Carlsbad and Encinitas have declared local e-bike emergencies. According to the bill, children under 12 make up a disproportionate number of e-bike injuries. It cites one study that found the 10–13 age group made up 44% of e-bike injuries nationwide.
In July, an 8-year-old boy on an electric scooter was killed by a car in Chula Vista. In August, a 12-year-old and an 18-year-old riding together on an e-bike in San Marcos suffered major injuries when they were struck by a car in an intersection.
Coronado was first to pass an ordinance banning riders under 12; the law took effect in January. Chula Vista was next in August. Santee is still fine-tuning its regulations. And today, September 16, Carlsbad will hold a public meeting to discuss a possible minimum age for e-bike use.