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File #: 21-290 MEETING DATE: 4/5/2021
Submitted by Councilmembers Mike Posey and Natalie Moser - Direct staff to develop
Municipal Code adjustments to revise existing E-Bike Use Regulations on the City's Beach
Path
We recommend that the City Council direct staff to develop for consideration an overall beach path
safety management plan that would include updated municipal code language allowing the use of e-
bikes, coupled with other regulatory, infrastructure, and speed enforcement plans.
City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 3/31/2021
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CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
CITY COUNCIL MEETING—COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS REPORT
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MIKE POSEY, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
NATALIE MOSER, CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
DATE: APRIL 5, 2021
SUBJECT: DIRECTING STAFF TO DEVELOP MUNICIPAL CODE ADJUSTMENTS TO REVISE
EXISTING E-BIKE USE REGULATIONS ON THE CITY'S BEACH PATH
BACKGROUND
In 2017, the City enacted changes to Huntington Beach Municipal Code Section 13.08.280,
related to vehicle use restrictions at the beach and on the City's beach path. Per the adjustment
that was made, the revised regulations currently stipulate the following:
"No Person shall operate or possess any motor-driven cycle, motor-driven bicycle, motorcycle,
automobile, motor truck or other motorized vehicle or conveyance(regardless of power source or size)
on the Beach or Adjacent Beach Area other than for law enforcement, lifesaving or emergency purposes,
or for Beach maintenance purposes, except by permit issued by the Director,nor on any roads on which
signs are posted prohibiting such activity, nor in any manner or direction prohibited by posted signs, nor
on any Beach or Adjacent Beach Area other than on the roads, drives or parking areas designed for such
purposes."
In effect, these existing rules constitute a ban on the use of e-bikes on the City's beach path.
During the pandemic, as more individuals have purchased and used e-bikes, there have been a
notable number of complaints received by the City regarding unsafe a-bike usage. However,
while public safety issues certainly exist on the beach path today, those concerns are associated
with the mixing of pedestrians, bikers, skaters, and other types of users, because of the speed
differentiation between the various mixed transportation modes. Certainly, regular bikes or
skaters can create the same public safety concern as e-bikes when moving at high speeds.
To that end, we would suggest that the City Council direct staff to develop updated municipal
code adjustments that would allow a-bike usage on the City's beach path, while simultaneously
developing regulatory, infrastructure, and speed enforcement plans to better manage and
monitor user speed on the bike path.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
We recommend that the City Council direct staff to develop for consideration an overall beach
path safety management plan that would include updated municipal code language allowing the
use of e-bikes, coupled with other regulatory, infrastructure, and speed enforcement plans.
471
Moore, Tania
From: Fikes,Cathy
Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2021 9:08 AM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW:Agenda Items
From: Lisa Bertolini<lisa422@gmail.com>
Sent:Wednesday, March 31, 2021 9:36 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject:Agenda Items
I'm in favor of agenda items 20, 21,23,24, and 25.
Lisa Bertolini
SUPPLEMENTAL
OMMUNICATION
Meo*V Date:
Apando IMm No. 7�23
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Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Friday, April 2, 2021 2:46 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: boardwalk
-----Original Message-----
From: BARBARA MARSHALL <blmarsha112@verizon.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2021 2:17 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL <city.council@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject: boardwalk
It has come to my attention that the council is giving some consideration to banning a-bikes on the boardwalk. I
sincerely hope that does not happen.
As a long time resident, my husband and I use the boardwalk on our ebikes 3-4 times a week. We are active retirees, and
the bike is very helpful when riding against the wind that comes up most afternoons. Our bikes are pedal-assist and do
not travel under their own power.
As a frequent user of the boardwalk, I do observe that some users travel too fast; but the truth is they are often on
regular bikes, boards, and a variety of other modes of transportation. I do not believe banning ebikes will solve any
problems. When the good weather brings more crowds, you should take advantage of enforcing the zone near the pier
where users have to walk their bikes/boards etc. when lights are flashing.
By the way, walkers are not always innocent! I often find people who seem completely unaware crossing the boardwalk
without looking in either direction. Also, people walking with their dogs can cause real problems when they let their
dogs wander around on a long leash rather than keeping them close. A person can be biking at a slow speed and nearly
have an accident because other users seem unaware of their surroundings. Spend some time down there before you
come to any hasty decisions. As a side note, if you look at the city parking lot and the state lot, you will notice many
people bring their bikes with them to enjoy our beautiful boardwalk. These are tourists who spend money and who like
to feel welcome. And yes, many of them are on ebikes.
As an aside, if you have never seen the boardwalk on the sand in Long Beach going from the bay all the way to the
Queen Mary, the city has managed to solve any conflicts by providing separate side by side paths for bikers & skaters
with the other for walkers-all in lovely smooth concrete!
Speaking again as a long time resident, I wish you would focus some attention on the rotted out rusty railing that
extends all along the north part of our beach; reminds me of a third world country and is pretty pathetic for a city with
one of the most spectacular beaches in Ca.
Thank you for you time SUPPLEMENTAL
Barbara Marshall COMMUNICATION
Morning Tide Dr. HB
714 536-0108 '. /
Mwbng Date: Y/
A" %M No.. #�TTT"
1 ( '
Moore, Tania
From: Steven C. Shepherd, Architect <steve@ shepherd architects.com>
Sent: Monday, April S, 2021 1:09 PM
To: supplementalcomm@surfcity-hb.org; CITY COUNCIL
Subject: SUPPORT FOR AGENDA ITEM #23 - Municipal Code E-Bike Use Regulations on City
Beach Path
Hello Huntington Beach City Council,
I am contacting you today to offer my strong support for allowing E-Bike use on the City's Beach Path.
I have a fairly unique perspective on the use of multi-use paths. I am both an avid a-bike rider and one who regularly
walks our multi-use paths. While I rarely ride my a-bike on the HB Beach Path, I walk portions of it several times per
week. While excessive speed is often an issue, a-bikes are no more guilty than traditional bicycle riders, skateboarders,
and rollerblades.
Both as an a-bike rider and a pedestrian I strongly support a-bike being allowed on HB's Beach Path and suggest any
revised policy consider the following:
1. Bicycles, tricycles, scooters, wheelchairs, and all other modes of transportation powered by electric motors should be
allowed on all multi-use paths in the City of Huntington Beach. (I intentionally exclude gas-powered motors due to the
noise and pollution associated with such machines).
2. All those operating any wheeled mode of transportation should be subject to standard rules regarding rights-of-way
and speed limits. (Pedestrians must always be given the right-of-way regardless of their awareness/unawareness.)
3. The City of Huntington Beach should invest in both education (website information, physical beach path signage, and
warning citations from HBPD) and enforcement of beach path rules.
4. The City of Huntington Beach, in collaboration with State and County DoT's, should invest in providing safe bicycle
infrastructure on PCH. There is a difference between multi-use paths and bike lanes and each serves a specific purpose.
Unfortunately, due to the lack of bicycle infrastructure along PCH, many cyclists whose express purpose is to get from
point A to point B are forced to use the beach path. A considerable amount of the issues on the beach path can be
attributed to this factor.
1-hank you for your support on Agenda Item rt23!
Steve Shepherd
Huntington Beach. CA 92646
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Agorde mm No.
Moore, Tania
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, April 5, 2021 1:54 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Motorized vehicles on the bike/pedestrian path
From: Donald Kato <dbkato@yahoo.com> SUPPLEMENTAL
Sent: Monday, April 5, 2021 12:31 PM COMMUNICATION
To: Carr, Kim <Kim.Carr@surfcity-hb.org>
Cc: Fikes, Cathy<CFikes@surfcity-hb.org> Meeting —44kel
Subject: Motorized vehicles on the bike/pedestrian path
Ms. Carr. Agenda Um No.; -tJ3 j 21 - 1
I understand that motorized vehicles are not permitted to use our bike.'pedestrian path. If this is the case. 1)why is there no signage to
that effect and 2)why aren't violators being cited"
As of this morning, I continue to see motorized vehicle buzzing up and down the path. Further, it appears that the concession at the
base of the pier is still offering motorized vehicles for rent.
DonaKato
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Sut Rentals
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Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Monday, April 5, 2021 5:58 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Electric bikes
From: Bob Banzett<bob4change@earthlink.net>
Sent: Monday,April 5, 2021 5:56 PM
To:CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject: Electric bikes
Electric bikes are a wonderful invention.
But they can also be a hazard.
I frequently ride the beach path between Sunset Beach and the pier. The heavy, large tire, electric bikes that
whiz by me at 20-25 mph are a frightening prospect. As you may know, the kinetic energy of a moving object
rises with the square of the speed of travel. Which is to say, that when they strike a pedestrian, biker, or child,a
lot of damage can happen. In addition, the greater speed of these bikes demands faster reactions. The people
riding them seem inattentive,often sitting back with only one hand on the handlebars.
We need strict enforcement of speed limits- if that is not possible. I think bikes capable of these speeds should
be banned from the bike paths—they are motor vehicles.
Thanks
Robert B Banzett PhD
HB Resident and bike rider
bob4chanaeAearthhnk.net
1
Switzer, Donna
From: Fikes, Cathy
Sent: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 4:26 PM
To: Agenda Alerts
Subject: FW: Bike path
From: beatriz sztain <sztain@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 7, 2021 3:46 PM
To: CITY COUNCIL<city.council@surfcity-hb.org>
Subject: Bike path
I wish to thank the city council for allowing a bikes on the bike path. The majority of people who use a bikes are
elderly. We purchased a bikes like most older people because we were no longer able to ride manual bikes. Once again
a great big THANK YOU!!
A suggestion for everyone's safety is to create a pedestrian side and a bicycle side like they have done in the city of Long
Beach. All skaters, bikes, skate boarders on one side and the pedestrians, runners, dog walkers on the other. Most of
the bike path is wide enough to do this. In the area past the beach playground it will have to be widen. Thank you so
much for considering everyone's safety on the path so we can all continue to enjoy it.
Beatriz Sztain
8788 Coral Springs Court# 206 E
Huntington Beach, 92646
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