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Home My WebLink AboutE-Bike Ordinance - Councilmember Item Submitted by Council W IINGT 2000 Main Street, tro, Rizz,L6, Huntington Beach,CA ¢` City of Huntington Beach 92648 APPROVED 7-0 "-14*• o ' ALTERNATE MOTION TO `Louly � . < RESEARCH PRACTICES RE.;,.RIDING E—BIKES ON SIDEWALKS File#: 25-711 MEETING DATE: 9/16/2025 Subject: Item Submitted by Council Woman Van Der Mark and Mayor Pro Tern McKeon - E-bike Ordinance Recommended Action: Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 10.84.160 (Riding on Sidewalks) Attachment(s): 1.Council Woman Van Der Mark and Mayor Pro Tem McKeon Memo City of Huntington Beach Page 1 of 1 Printed on 9/10/2025 powered by Leg istarTm 599 City Council/Public Financing ACTION AGENDA September 16,2025 Authority Huntington Beach Independence Day Board." Approved 7-0 COUNCIL MEMBER ITEMS 22. 25-711 Item Submitted by Council Woman Van Der Mark and Mayor Pro Tem McKeon — E-bike Ordinance Recommended Action: Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 10.84.160 (Riding on Sidewalks) Approved 7-0, alternate motion to research best practices pertaining to riding E-bikes on sidewalks. 23. 25-711 Item Submitted by Mayor Pro Tem McKeon, Councilman Andrew Gruel and Councilman Don Kennedy — Business Development Team and Service Improvements Ad Hoc Committee Recommended Action: Create the Business Development Team and Service Improvements Ad Hoc City Council Committee comprised of three City Council Members and direct the City Manager to select department representatives. Approved 7-0 Ad Hoc Committee— Councilman Kennedy, Mayor Pro Tem McKeon and Councilman Gruel 24. 25-751 Item Submitted by Councilman Andrew Gruel—Explore Termination of Symphony of Flowers Event Recommended Action: Direct staff to explore steps to terminate the Symphony of Flowers event. Approved 7-0 25. 25-753 Item Submitted by Councilman Don Kennedy, Mayor Pat Burns, and Councilman Butch Twining - Support for the Recertification of US SURFING as the National Governing Body of US Olympic Surfing Recommended Action: Authorize the Mayor to issue a letter of support to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee for recertification of US Surfing as the National Governing Body for the sport of surfing in the United States. Approved 7-0 Page 9 of 10 f�.,riara. CITY OF t = L: HUNTINGTON BEACH City Council Meeting — Council Member Items Report To: City Council From: Gracey Van Der Mark, Council Woman Casey McKeon, Mayor Pro Tem Date: September 16, 2025 Subject: AMENDING HBMC §10.84.160: RIDING ON SIDEWALKS (EBIKES) ISSUE STATEMENT The rise in electric bicycle (e-bike) use has created new public safety challenges in our community. E-bikes, often ridden by minors without driver training, are capable of speeds exceeding 28 mph—and even higher when modified. Their use on sidewalks and other pedestrian areas creates a safety risk for pedestrians in our city. Since May 2023, HBPD has documented more than 1,300 micromobility-related nuisance calls, highlighting the community-wide impact. While most reported collisions have occurred on roadways, the same risk factors—high speeds and untrained riders—make sidewalks increasingly unsafe. Huntington Beach has seen e-Bike crashes more than double since 2022, with 2025 projections exceeding 160 crashes. According to CHOC, youth e-bike trauma admissions have risen over 1,500% since 2019, with Huntington Beach leading Orange County in emergency department cases. These statistics highlight the need to act now, proactively addressing sidewalk risks before injuries increase. The Municipal Code already restricts bicycles on sidewalks in certain areas, but it predates widespread e-bike use. Updating the ordinance will strengthen these rules by explicitly including e-bikes and other electric conveyances, while also establishing enforceable standards for speed, right-of-way, and pedestrian safety. Updating the ordinance will provide clear rules, stronger enforcement tools, and safer sidewalks for the community. RECOMMENDED ACTION Direct the City Manager and City Attorney to prepare an ordinance amending Huntington Beach Municipal Code § 10.84.160 (Riding on Sidewalks) to read as follows: A. No person shall ride a bicycle, electric bicycle, or any other electric conveyance: 1. Upon a sidewalk within any business district, unless explicitly allowed by signage. 2. Upon any sidewalk located within 100 feet of the property line of a public school building, church, recreation center, or playground. 3. Upon any pedestrian overcrossing or within any crosswalk. 4. Upon a sidewalk against the normal flow of traffic. 2000 Main Street,Huntington Beach,CA 92648 I www.huntingtonbeachca.gov 600 B. Where sidewalk riding is permitted, operators shall: 1. Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and exercise due care to avoid collisions. 2. Provide an audible signal prior to overtaking and passing pedestrians. 3. Operate at a speed not exceeding ten (10) miles per hour, and at a speed not exceeding five (5) miles per hour when pedestrians are present. C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the use of a wheelchair, mobility scooter, or other assistive device by a person with a disability, whether manually operated or motorized, when used for mobility assistance. ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL Non Applicable -Administrative Item 2000 Main Street,Huntington Beach,CA 92648 i www.huntingtonbeachca.gov 601 From: drvnerson(aearthlink.net To: suoolementalcomm(asurfcity-hb.orq;CITY COUNCIL(INCL.CMO STAFF Subject: Agenda Item 25-711 Date: Saturday,September 13,2025 2:32:34 PM Agenda Item 25-711 While no one disputes the issues with e-bikes, another ordinance is not the solution. Let's start with the facts of what is, and what isn't, an e-bike. The State of California recognizes and defines three classes of e-bikes: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Here are their definitions: An electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.Three classes of electric bicycles have been established: • Class 1:A low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor which provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of 20 mph is reached. • Class 2:A low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor used exclusively to propel the bicycle and NOT capable of providing assistance when a speed of 20 mph is reached. • Class 3:A low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a speedometer, and a motor which provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of 28 mph is reached. Please note that the motor in even a Class 3 e-bike ceases to assist the rider at 28 mph, so while the bike could be going faster than 28 mph, it's doing so on rider power just like a conventional bike.. Don't confuse e-bikes with electric motorcycles. If it has no pedals, it's not an e-bike. If the motor generates more than 750 watts, it's not an e-bike. So,there are really two issues here: • E-bikes ridden in an unsafe manner • Electric motorcycles designed for off-road use being ridden on our streets They require different responses. Off-road electric motorcycles, like Sur-Rons and others are simply not legal on the street and the riders should be ticketed for illegally operating an off-road vehicle on public streets. Laws already exist for this purpose and should be utilized. If someone modifies an e-bike to generate more power than 750W or to continue to assist at speeds over 28 mph,then it's no longer an e-bike and falls into this same category. SUPPLEMENTAL COMMUNICATION Meeting Date: 09/16/2025 Agenda Item No. 22 (25-711) E-bikes ridden irresponsibly require different treatment. Laws already exist covering exhibitionistic driving and are equally applicable to bicycles as they are to automobiles. Wheelies, running signals and stop sign, riding on the wrong side of the road are already covered—they simply need to be enforced. I would recommend stronger enforcement with some officer discretion and something like traffic school for first-time or infrequent offenders. While your recommended actions are well-intentioned,they also show that you really don't ride yourselves and don't really know the realities that cyclist face. For example,when there is no bicycle lane,the cyclist is faced with the choice of riding in the automobile lane or on a sidewalk. Many riders choose the sidewalk out of self- preservation. I encourage you to try riding on streets with no bicycle lane to experience that choice. BTW: One alternative part of the solution would be to direct HBPD to enforce the state law that requires automobiles to give cyclists three feet of clearance when passing. This law is violated constantly, and I have never seen a single driver warned or cited for the violation. Taking your items in Section A in order, many people ride specifically to do shopping, and by excluding them from sidewalks in business districts,you are making that use significantly more difficult. Parents often choose to ride with their student to school, and often take younger children on the sidewalk. Prohibiting this within 100' of a school makes that significantly more challenging. When stopped at an intersection,to press the cycle crossing button, a cyclist usually has to be in the crosswalk, and their first 10-15'starting up will likely still be in that crosswalk, so how are they to comply? Sidewalks are inherently bi-directional—they don't have a "normal flow of traffic", so how is a cyclist to comply with this idea? Section B is much better. There is a hierarchy of right-of-way in shared use environments: • Horses • Pedestrians • Cyclists I am willing to bet that very few people know that complete hierarchy, so education is important. Item B2 is also good—using a horn or bell from some distance back and even telling the pedestrian on which side you will pass are best practices, as well as giving as much clearance as possible. Please note that many pedestrians walk with headphones on, which can make notification difficult. Suggesting open air headphones or a setting that allow ambient sound are best practices, as is educating pedestrians to understand that hearing a bell means a cyclist is approaching. Above all, I suggest you get out and ride yourself to truly understand what the cycling experience is like. Once you've had to deal with a disappearing bike land that forces you to merge with 4000 lb.vehicles travelling 50 mph with little or no notice,you might have more sympathy for cyclists that take to the sidewalk. When they do, it is important that they yield properly to pedestrians. Finally, cities all over the county are passing ordinances willy-nilly to give their citizens the appearance that they are tackling e-bikes. The result is a hodgepodge of laws that change from city to city, leaving cyclists guessing what's legal in what jurisdiction. Do you think automobile drivers would put up with that kind of chaos? Certainly not, so why should cyclists? David Rynerson Huntington Beach, CA Mr.Amory Hanson 8102 Ellis Avenue Apartment 121 Huntington Beach CA 92646 September 16, 2025 The Mayor Of Huntington Beach 2000 Main Street Huntington Beach CA 92648 My Dear Mister Mayor, I would like to express my support for Item XXII,Councilmen McKeon and Vandermark's item to adopt an electronic bicycle ordinance. Sincerely Yours, Mr.Amory Hanson CC:The Honorable Casey McKeon CC:The Honorable Andrew Gruel CC:The Honorable Donald C.Kennedy CC:The Honorable E.M.Twining CC:The Honorable Grace Vandermark CC:The Honorable Chad Williams From: drvnersonCalearthlink.net To: suoolementalcomn'alsurfcity-hb.orq Subject: E-Bike Ordinance Date: Wednesday,September 24,2025 1:30:15 PM I want to thank Chad Williams for being the voice of reason at the city council meeting of September 16th regarding the proposed e-bike ordinance. As he stated, there are already an ordinance that covers unsafe riding on a sidewalk. Similarly, there exist laws that prohibit exhibitionistic driving/riding in the street. There is no need for additional laws. There are so many places where bike lanes either do not exist at all or disappear without warning. This is especially the case on major thoroughfares like Warner or Edinger. Forcing cyclists into traffic where bike lanes are inadequate increases the risk of accidents with automobiles, especially with automobiles travelling 20-30 mph faster than the cyclist. If HBPD actually enforced the California state law requiring automobile drivers to give cyclists at least three feet of clearance, that would help reduce the risk. Education of all parties would help. How many drivers know about the California law referenced above? How many cyclists and pedestrians both know the right-of-way rules and the procedures to use them? How many pedestrians walk with headphones on, so they cannot hear warnings from cyclists? How many cyclists know how to notify pedestrians of their approach, and how many pedestrians know how to react to that notification? I have had pedestrians, when notified that I will be passing "on your left", step left forcing me to leave the pavement to avoid them. Education of clear guidelines and procedures, common courtesy, and more active enforcement of existing laws - either via warnings or citations - are better ways to solve this problem than layering on yet more laws or ordinances. I commend HBPD for their efforts at the city's schools and encourage more effort in that direction. I will repeat, once again, that if laws and ordinances changed from city to city for automobiles, there would be widespread outrage. Why should it be any different for cyclists? David Rynerson Huntington Beach, CA