CASEY OF LOS ANGES County of Los Angeles
CIVIL GRAND JURY
222 South Hill Street • Sixth Floor • Suite 670 • Los Angeles, California 90012 Telephone (213) 893-0411 • Fax (213) 893-0425
CALIFORNIA www.grandjury.co.la.ca.us
June 17, 2024
Glendale City Council
Elen Asatryan, Mayor
613 East Broadway
Glendale, CA 91206
MICROMOBILITY DEVICES
"PAY NOW OR PAY LATER"
Pre-Release of a report by the 2023-2024 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury NOTE: DO NOT DISCLOSE ANY REPORT CONTENTS PRIOR TO JUNE 28, 2024 Dear Mayor Asatryan,
California Penal Code Section 933.05 (f) provides: "A grand jury shall provide the affected agency a copy of the portion of the grand jury report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after approval by the presiding judge. No office, agency, department, or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the Final Report." The enclosed report will be released to the public on June 28, 2024.
California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses by elected county officials and agency heads shall be made no later than sixty (60) days after the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury publishes its report and files with the Clerk of the Court. Responses by the governing body of public agencies shall be ninety (90) days after the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury publishes its reports and files with the Clerk of the Court.
Responses shall be made in accordance with Penal Code Section 933.05 (a) and (b).
All responses to the recommendations of the 2023-2024 Los Angeles Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury must be submitted to:
Presiding Judge
Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
210 W. Temple Street, Thirteenth Floor, Room 13-303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sincerely,
June chandell-Sator
RENE SHANDELL-TAYLOR, FOREPERSON
2023-2024 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury
Enclosure: How to respond to recommendations in this report Section 933.05. Responses to findings
(a) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following:
(1) The respondent agrees with the finding
(2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefor.
(b) For purposes of subdivision (b) of Section 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions:
(1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action.
(2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a timeframe for implementation.
(3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This timeframe shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the grand jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefor.
(c) However, if a finding or recommendation of the grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the agency or department head and the board of supervisors shall respond if requested by the grand jury, but the response of the board of supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department.
(d) A grand jury may request a subject person or entity to come before the grand jury for the purpose of reading and discussing the findings of the grand jury report that relates to that person or entity in order to verify the accuracy of the findings prior to their release. (e) During an investigation, the grand jury shall meet with the subject of that investigation regarding the investigation, unless the court, either on its own determination or upon request of the foreperson of the grand jury, determines that such a meeting would be detrimental. (f) A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the portion of the grand jury report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency, department, or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report.
MICROMOBILITY DEVICES
"PAY NOW OR PAY LATER"
SAT NO MOUSE
CALIFORNIA
2023 - 2024
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
CIVIL GRAND JURY
ACRONYMS
DMV California Department of Motor Vehicles
LADOT Los Angeles City Department of Transportation
UCLA University of California at Los Angeles
MMD Micromobility Device
32 MICROMOBILITY DEVICES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This investigation conducted by the 2023-2024 Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury reviewed and evaluated the efficacy and facilitation of ubiquitous micromobility machines. The Micromobility Device Committee (MMD Committee) looked at whether the County of Los Angeles was doing what is necessary to ensure that all of its citizens have a safe and positive experience while using any of the micromobility devices (i.e., electric scooters (e-scooters) and electric bicycles (e-bikes), etc.). The MMD Committee also looked at how the operation of these machines impacts others. These devices are ubiquitous and their use will only increase in the future.
It is not uncommon to encounter someone flying by on the sidewalks in Los Angeles on an e- scooter just barely missing people. To avoid this situation, the objective of the MMD Committee is to look at how vendors were permitted to operate within the City of Los Angeles, what the California Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) laws were that pertain to operating these devices, the use of private e-bikes and e-scooters, State legislation, community reactions, and injuries and/or deaths caused by the careless riding of these instruments. After looking at these areas, solutions were determined that could lessen the negative impact that e-bikes and e-scooters have brought to the people of Los Angeles and the impact economically it has on the same. The MMD Committee also found that by following certain recommendations for using e-scooters and e-bikes that the City of Los Angeles would contribute to the United States Long-Term Strategy of lower emissions in the environment.
12.00 CASH
Individuals riding e-bikes on sidewalks.
33 BACKGROUND
Micromobility refers to a range of small, lightweight vehicles operating at speeds typically below 25 km/h (15 mph) and driven by users individually. Micromobility devices include bicycles, e- bikes, electric scooters, electric skateboards, shared bicycle fleets, and electric pedal assisted bicycles. This report deals specifically with electric scooters and electric bikes.' Micromobility devices cost considerably less than other modes of transportation and have become ubiquitous in Downtown Los Angeles.
Until the introduction of micromobility devices, one could travel in dense urban areas by walking, hailing a taxi, arranging for an Uber/Lyft ride, or taking a bus or local train. None of these modes of transportation are optimum because of the parking limitations in downtown Los Angeles and downtown Long Beach and the limited number of bus/train stops in these urban areas, and the proliferation of one way streets in downtown areas. This led to the introduction of small micromobility devices that can be driven practically anywhere. The range of a typical electric scooter is about 15 miles which is more than enough for dense urban areas. Typical e-bikes can cover a distance between 15 to 60 miles per charge, but some high-end models can reach up to 75+ miles.
The primary user benefits of using e-scooters is that they are considerably less expensive than other rental mobility devices and they can be used to travel to virtually any location especially in dense urban areas. In a sense they are an equitable mode of transportation.
To use any electric scooter you need to download an app for the company that provides the electric scooter, then use the app to find a scooter. When you arrive at the scooter you can scan the QR code which unlocks the scooter. For example, in Los Angeles County, Lime (an e-scooter company) charges $1.00 to unlock the scooter, $0.54 for each minute of your ride, and an additional $0.38 in local fees and costs. To end the ride, park the scooter in the appropriate parking spot as indicated on the app, press "End Ride" on the app and follow subsequent directions.? The scooter explosion in LA can be traced back to 2017 when the City of Santa Monica-based- start-up Company, Bird, introduced dockless e-scooters to the city, seemingly overnight. The term dockless refers to the capability to park the scooter without the use of physical equipment to secure the scooter. In response to the rapidly increasing number of electric scooters in Los Angeles, the city implemented regulations to limit the number of scooters allowed on the streets. The Los Angeles City Department of Transportation (LADOT) introduced the one-year Dockless Mobility Program in 2019, providing guidelines and licenses for permitted scooter operators. This program limited the total number of scooters in Los Angeles to around 36,170 to be broken down by company into 10,500 allocated to Lime, 10,500 to Bird, 5,000 for Lyft, 3,000 to Bolt and 6,500 for Spin.3 However, the only vendors that the MMD Committee observed operating in Los Angeles were Bird, GCOO, Lime and Pedestrian. As of 2021, there were approximately 37,000 1 "The Electric Assist: Leveraging E-bikes and E-scooters for More Livable Cities" (PDF). Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2020. 2 Information from iPhone Lime App. Information is not available on the Lime Website. 3 https://www.levyelectric.com/resources/exploring-the-rise-of-electric-scooters-in-los-angeles 34 electric scooters in Los Angeles County.* The overall primary goal of the Dockless Mobility Program was to understand the dynamics of the private micromobility device market.
Various Vendor's E-scooters
Los Angeles City's Regulation of Shared Mobility Devices The Los Angeles Municipal Code provides that LADOT "shall implement a Shared Mobility Device Permit Program (Program) and may issue a permit on an annual basis to a qualified service provider (Provider) to operate a shared mobility device (Device) in the City. For purposes of this section, a 'shared mobility device,' as defined in Civil Code Section 2505, means an electrically motorized board, motorized scooter, electric bicycle, or a similar personal transportation device."6 In addition, LADOT's General Manager "shall have the authority to make technical changes to the Rules as needed, and to make changes necessary to implement the Program, including, but not limited to: (1) updating permit application procedures, permit standards, and permit conditions; and (2) updating operating standards for public safety, data sharing, data privacy, fleet size, and Provider maintenance of the Devices. "7
Some of the problems the MMD Committee has identified associated with these devices are not wearing a helmet, riding on sidewalks, riding in the wrong direction, exceeding speed limits on *Ibid
5https://ladot.lacity.gov/projects/transportation-services/shared-mobility#shared-micromobility 6 Los Angeles Municipal Code, Sec. 71.29. Regulation of Shared Mobility Devices. 7Ibid
35 personal e-scooters and/or e-bikes, injuries, accidents or deaths, cars not watching for e-bikes and e-scooters, bike lanes not consistent and e-bikes/e-scooters just haphazardly placed on the sidewalk or left in the street.
E-scooter left in street
METHODOLOGY
In an effort to better understand the problems occurring with the use of the e-scooters and e-bikes in the County, the Committee looked at several areas.
Are other cities having the same problems?
Has there been an increase in injuries in emergency rooms in the Los Angeles area? • How many vendors are providing these devices in Los Angeles and what are their responsibilities?
• What does the Transportation Department require?
• What are the requirements established by DMV?
• Observations by the MMD Committee while walking through Downtown Los Angeles • The MMD Committee interviewed other Transportation Departments and Colleges in cities within Los Angeles County to compare if they are having similar problems. • Whether children under the age of 16 should be able to drive an e-scooter • The Committee also viewed the websites of California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) (dmv.ca.gov) and the California Highway Patrol (chp.ca.gov) to gain information about the legal definition of electric scooters.
• How adopting the recommendations regarding micromobility devices tie into the Long- Term Strategy of the United States.
36 DISCUSSION
United States Long-Term Strategy
In 2021, the United States rejoined the Paris Agreement, set an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution to reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions by 50-51% in 2030. This 2021 Long- Term Strategy represents the next step: it lays out how the United States can reach its ultimate goal of net-zero emissions no later than 2050. Reducing air pollution through clean energy will alone help avoid 300,000 premature deaths in the United States. This will occur through lower vehicle costs; fuel economy and emissions standards in light-medium-and-heavy duty vehicles; incentives for zero-emissions vehicles and clean fuels; investment in a new charging infrastructure to support multi-unit dwellings, public charging and long-distance travel; scaling up biorefineries; comprehensive innovation investments to reduce hydrogen costs; and investment in infrastructure that supports all modes of clean transportation—such as transit, rail biking, micro mobility and pedestrian options.
To support this outcome, the United States set a goal for half of all new light-duty cars sold in 2030 to be zero-emissions vehicles to produce 3 billion gallons of sustainable aviation fuel by 2030 and to accelerate deployment and reduce costs in every mode of transportation.
The arrival of electric scooters in Los Angeles County has become a huge help in the city's battle with high carbon emissions. Through a lot of study and surveys, it has been shown that e-scooters play a bit part in reducing greenhouse gas emissions making them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional forms of transportation. Low carbon emissions have been made possible by electric scooters. They provide an eco-friendly and practical way to travel short distances instead of waiting for an Uber or driving and sitting in traffic? 8 The Long-Term Strategy of the United States, Pathways to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050 (fao.org), pg. 15, 11/2021
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/d59c0e40db754ee2a64cdad8caf4eca4/print 37 Vendors
Various E-scooters correctly placed on sidewalk
There are several vendors that provide e-bikes and e-scooters in the City of Los Angeles. Some of these vendors that the MMD Committee have seen on the streets of Los Angeles are Bird, Lime, GCOO and Superpedestrian. According to guidelines sent out from the City of Los Angeles Mayor's office in 2021, there are requirements for each vendor to operate in Los Angeles, including health and safety requirements such as encouraging helmet use and informing users of the prohibition of riding on sidewalks.!° In reviewing the websites for the above-mentioned vendors, each of these companies strongly recommend that their riders wear helmets and follow local traffic laws in the cities where they ride. Only one of these venders instruct their riders to not ride on sidewalks. Bird is the only vendor so far that the MMD Committee has found that offers insurance coverage for bodily injury and property damage for riders using Bird devices. 10 https://ladot.lacity.gov/sites/default/files/documents/final-year-two-rules-and-guidelines-updated-sla.pdf 38 Table 1
Micromobility Device Vendor Comparison of Requirements
Driver's Insurance Ride in
Helmet License/Permit Available or Speed Limit Street/Bicycle Vendor Required Required Required Set on Device Lane
Required
Recommend Must be 18 Available Beginner
Mode Only Yes
BIRD
GCOO Recommend Yes Unknown Unknown Yes
Lime Recommend Unknown Available Yes Yes
S superpedestrian Recommend* Unknown Unknown Unknown Yes *Connects with BERN to obtain discounted helmets.
39 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
JON & VINNY'S
Metro Bike
Metro Bike
Metro in Los Angeles also provides access to both e-bikes and regular bikes through a bicycle sharing system throughout the Los Angeles area. The service was launched on July 7, 2016. It is administered by the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority and is operated by Bicycle Transit Systems. The system uses a fleet of about 1,400 bikes and includes 93 stations in Downtown Los Angeles, Venice and the Port of Los Angeles.' According to the Metro's website, there are riding tips that stress the importance of riders to continue to practice safe riding habits, ride in the direction of the flow of traffic not against it, obey traffic signs and signals, be aware of hazards, including car doors, driveways and potholes, use hand signals, always wear a helmet and check e-bike for proper seat placement, air in tires, brakes and wheels 12
Local Colleges
Interviews were conducted with local law enforcement at several local colleges in the Los Angeles County area to determine the impact micromobility devices have had in their areas. The following are some of those comments:
• El Camino Community College - The use of e-bikes and e-scooters are voluntary by faculty and staff. Anyone using these devices is required to follow the California Vehicle "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_Bike Share
12 https://bikeshare.metro.net/how-it-works/riding-tips/ 40 Code. The only incidents reported are stolen e-scooters or e-bikes as a result of having inferior chains securing them. Being aware of someone riding on these devices is encouraged. One concern has been blind students getting startled when an e-scooter or e- bikes whizzes past them.
• Los Angeles Southwest College - The MMD Committee spoke with a Deputy at Los Angeles Southwest College. According to this individual, they have not seen anyone riding e-bikes and e-scooters on their campus nor have they had any incidents or litigation at this location. If someone does ride any of these devices, they would be expected to follow the California DMV rules.
• Cal State Los Angeles, Commuter Services, Transportation Department - Bicycles have to be registered. There are 52 lockers on the campus and they are free. You can also rent lockers. The cost is $10 for students and $20 for faculty. They are starting to register e- scooters but so far storage units are unavailable. However, e-scooters are not allowed on campus and must be walked into the campus. If there are any situations, they are handled by the Police Department but they are not allowed to issue citations. • UCLA Police Department - The MMD Committee spoke with a person in the UCLA Police Department. It was confirmed that they do permit e-scooters and e-bikes on campus but in designated areas. Any personal scooters and motorcycles are to follow Vehicle Codes 407.5 and 212.35. Riders are required to wear helmets and obey traffic rules and DMV codes. The main company that UCLA has partnered with for the public e-scooters is Bird. Anyone renting these devices are required to follow all established DMV and UCLA policies and rules. There have been many complaints from people on the campus regarding both e-scooters and e-bikes. Included on the campus are an elementary school and high school. Also, there have been litigation/incidents following accidents. For the calendar year 2023, there were 13 incidents of which six were involving vehicle vs. e- scooter collision.
Individual riding while sitting on e-scooter
41 Legal Requirements
A motorized scooter has 2 wheels, a motor, handlebars, and a floorboard that you can stand on while riding it.'3 The State of California DMV does not require a specific license for riding an electric scooter. You only need a Class C (Basic) regular driver's license or Class M1 (Motorcycle) license or a Class M2 (Motorized Bicycle) license to operate an electric scooter. 14 Proof of insurance is also required. These devices do not need to be registered with DMV'S. If you are under 18 years old, it is mandatory to wear a helmet. The speed limit is 15 mph on the road. The biggest concern with respect to the speed limit is when an individual is riding on the sidewalks. The following illustration of an electric scooter is from the DMV website.
It should be noted that some of the electric scooter manufacturers offer liability insurance and some don't. The jurisdictions that allow electric scooters should implement a regulation that requires these companies to offer liability insurance that is applicable when operating one of the electric scooters through their app.
It doesn't appear that regulations such as not riding electric scooters on sidewalks and electric scooter speed limits are regularly enforced. The Committee understands the difficulty in enforcing these regulations but in areas with high pedestrian traffic such as downtown Los Angeles and downtown Long Beach and nearby college campuses there should be an attempt to enforce these regulations.
Individual riding e-bikes on sidewalk
13 https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/motorcycles-mopeds-and-scooters/ 14 https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/motorcycles-mopeds-and-scooters/ 15 https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/vehicle-registration/new-registration/register-a-motorcycle/ 42 Minors on E-Scooters
If you fall off an e-scooter, which can travel up to 15 and 20 miles per hour, you are going to get hurt. Period. The most common injuries are cuts, fractures and head injuries. Some of these injuries are severe. Many of these injuries are caused by incidents with motor vehicles or user- control issues of the e-scooter. All scooters pose a similar--if not increased—-risk of head injury compared with bikes. Helmets are the best way to prevent serious head injuries, but usage remains low. A 2017 survey16 found that parents were less likely to make their child or adolescent wear a helmet while riding a scooter when compared to riding a bike. Only 57% of parents said they would make their child or adolescent wear a helmet while riding a scooter. E-scooter injuries in children are increasing, which is likely due to the rising popularity of e-scooter sharing apps. It is important that parents are aware of the dangers and regulations surrounding e-scooters.
Private Devices
There are private e-scooters and e-bikes used by some in the Los Angeles area that may go faster than the law allows. There are no controls in place to ensure that individuals using these devices follow the proper safety procedures that the vendors who the City has approved for use in Los Angeles are required to have in place.
There are serious concerns regarding some of the privately-owned e-bikes. One issue could be the assembly. With direct-to-customer e-bikes, the consumer assembles the bicycle by following the instructions instead of having them professionally assembled. This could lead to an introduction of errors that could result in accidents.
Industry experts argue that the real issue is a lack of regulations. They argue that more needs to be done by legislators to address the potential dangers of e-bikes. While the European Union has rigorous quality and safety standards for e-bikes, the U.S. does not.' Injuries
From a recent six-year period, the injury rate for riders of electric scooters in one section of Los Angeles was higher than the national rates for riders of motorcycles, bicycles, cars, and pedestrians. A study conducted by UCLA researchers from UCLA Health, which includes the UCLA medical school using information from years 2016 through 2020, reported that people injured in e-scooter accidents often sustain fractures and head trauma requiring treatment in an emergency department.18 These type of injuries nearly tripled throughout the U.S. during the period from 2016-2020. The cost of treating scooter-related injuries rose from $6.6 million in 2016 to $35.5 million in 2020 and for bicycle injuries increased from $407 to $434 million.'9 One of their conclusions is "Considering the rise in the number of hospitalizations and major operations for scooter-related injuries, it's crucial to elevate safety standards for riders," said lead https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/E-Scooters.aspx 1 https://www.victimslawyer.com/blog/los-angeles-e-bike-lawsuit-sheds-light-on-dangers-of-electric-bikes/ 18 https://www.uclahealth.org/news/hospitalizations-scooter-injuries-nearly-tripled-us-between 43 author Nam Yong Cho, a third-year medical student at UCLA and a research associate at the UCLA Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Laboratories. "Advocating for improved infrastructure, including enforced speed limits and dedicated lanes, is also vital to minimize risks for vehicles, scooter riders, and pedestrians alike." 20 The MMD Committee interviewed an attorney who represents individuals injured by e-scooters or e-bikes. The MMD Committee was shown a video of a client who was walking out of a store. As soon as this individual walked out the door, the close circuit camera captured him being slammed by someone on an e-scooter who was riding on the sidewalk. This person was also adamant that something needs to be put in place to reduce the injuries that are occurring.
The MMD Committee contacted several hospitals in surrounding areas to see if the emergency rooms had an uptick in the number of injuries as a result of e-scooters and/or e-bikes. At the start of this investigation, most of these hospitals that the MMD Committee contacted during this period of the investigation did not maintain any statistics on these types of accidents.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, "most deaths involve motor vehicles.
Many micromili py produtos and saltures antuit, matin os diles for aters to spot which looked at riders admitted for scooter injuries, found that only 4.4% of riders were wearing helmets. 22,23
Legislation
Assemblyperson Tasha Boerner who represents the 77th District in San Diego introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 53024 in the California Assembly Sacramento. This bill, if passed, would have required an on-line written test and prohibit children under 12 from riding e-bikes and e- scooters. This bill failed on February 1, 2024.
On January 1, 2024, Senate Bill (SB) 381,25 introduced by Senator Dave Min who represents the 37%h State Senate District in Orange County, California Legislature, was enacted. This bill requires the Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University to conduct a study on injuries caused by e-bikes and how to improve rider safety.26
Effective in 2024, California changed the laws pertaining to e-scooters as follows: Riders must use bike lanes, and keep maximum speed limit of 15 mph which keeps the speed of e-scooters in line with bicycles. Because not all pathways are open for e-scooters in LA, some of the important rules to follow are: riding on sidewalks is strictly forbidden, riders are required to have a valid driver's license or learner's permit, making left-hand turns while on an e-scooter requires the rider 20 Ibid
21 https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2024/E-Scooter-and-E-Bike-Injuries-Soar-2022-Injuries- Increased-Nearly-21
22 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681711/
23 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30681711/
24 https://legiscan.com/CA/text/AB530/id/2834086
25 https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB381/id/2746256
26 Westways Spring 2024
44 to dismount and cross on foot to avoid accidents and e-scooters should be in designated areas, ensuring they do not block pedestrian pathways and are parked upright.?? Department of Transportation
LADOT has invested in shared options to move people through the city. That is why there are several options for traveling throughout the city? You can drive your car, take the bus, train, use an e-bike or e-scooter or schedule an Uber. The rules for each is available on the LADOT website (Rider's Guide | LADOT Transit https://www.ladottransit.com/ridersguide.html) for everyone.
Community Reactions
Opposition to these devices has been varied. The San Diego County Civil Grand Jury investigated electric scooters and as a result determined that there were two pervasive types of violations which include scooters operating on sidewalks and improper staging of scooters. Their report also suggested that these vendors obtain permits that will indemnify the City from claims and damages related to operation of the company's business within the city.?9 In interviewing officials from some of the cities in the Los Angeles area, the MMD Committee found that the City of Glendale did not amend their ordinance and do not permit any micromobility devices in their city. 30 The MMD Committee is unaware of any official education program related to electric scooters provided to the public by any city or county agency within Los Angeles County. LASD, LAPD, other law enforcement agencies within LA County and the County CEO should initiate a media campaign via social media, print media, radio, and television to warn pedestrians and electric scooter riders of their responsibility to follow the regulations associated with their use of e-scooters and e-bikes.
The MMD Committee on several occasions have walked through the downtown area of Los Angeles. In doing so, the MMD Committee encountered on many occasions individuals riding their e-scooters at rapid speeds on the sidewalks almost colliding with other people. We have seen some e-scooters dangling off the curbs or not placed back where other e-scooters were located. 27 Electric Scooter Laws 2024: What You Need to Know About Regulations By State by Apollo Scooters USA, 2https://ladot.lacity.gov/projects/transportation-services/shared-mobility 29 San Diego County Grand Jury Report 2018/2019
30 https://www.glendalestar.com/news/article_46cf2f28-2e2e-11e9-9d05-7b6123b37cd9.html 45 E-scooter dangling off curb
Summary
It is becoming clear that these micromobility devices are here to stay but at what cost. Based on the various vendors' websites, all of the vendors authorized to provide their vehicles for use in the Los Angeles area have provided certain recommendations such as the rider should follow local traffic laws, not to ride under the influence, have only one rider on the device, wear a helmet and do not ride on sidewalks. The LADOT also makes clear on their website what is required to ride any of these vehicles, but it appears from the MMD Committee's observations that people are doing what they want to do without regard to the safety of other people. It is apparent that there needs to be a re-focus on educating the public about what to do when using any of the micromobility devices. It is strongly recommended that an educational and media campaign to reinforce the requirements for riding any of these vehicles be established. The MMD Committee also determined that micromobility devices did not have any horn or auditory signal device to warn others of the approach of the device.
By Los Angeles County and the cities within its boundaries adopting some of the recommendations suggested by the MMD Committee, the City will be doing its part in helping the country meet the standards established in the Long-Term Strategy of the United States by contributing to cleaner air. This will also play a significant part in helping people feel more secure and attracted to using e-bikes or e-scooters which will in turn help to lower emissions in our environment. 31 31 The Long-Term Strategy of the United States, Federal Strategy, pg 15, 11/2021 46 FINDINGS
2.1 Serious injuries and fatalities connected with micromobility devices are steadily rising.
2.2 Some communities are rejecting vendors.
2.3 Some electric scooter manufacturers offer liability insurance and some do not.
2.4 There is limited enforcement on violators riding on sidewalks, going in the wrong direction on streets, or exceeding the electric scooter speed limits.
2.5 There is no warning to pedestrians when an individual riding an e-scooter or e-bike is approaching people on the sidewalk.
2.6 Costs associated with micromobility device-related injuries create an economic burden on cities and businesses.
2.7 Most riders of e-bikes and e-scooters are not wearing helmets.
2.8 There is no official (internet, television, periodicals, social media, etc.) campaign associated with electric scooter or electric bike safety for operators and pedestrians provided by (add who you think should be providing this.
2.9 There is inconsistency among the primary sellers of electric scooters as to the availability of liability insurance.
2.10 Senate Bill 381 requires the Mineta Transportation Institute to study injuries caused by e-bikes and how to improve rider safety.
RECOMMENDATIONS
R2.1 Ensure LAPD, LBPD, other local municipal law enforcement agencies and campus police agencies and other local law enforcement agencies enforce electric scooters prohibition against riding on sidewalk, helmet requirements, and speed limits.
R2.2 Municipal governments should update permit agreements to require electric scooter manufacturers to offer liability insurance.
R2.3 Local Agencies should create local ordinances to make mandatory the use of helmets while riding any of the e-bikes or e-scooters.
R2.4 Law enforcement agencies (LAPD, LBPD, Community College Campus Police) should create a campaign to educate pedestrians and operators to use safety equipment, e.g., helmets.
R2.5 Law enforcement agencies (LAPD, LBPD, and Community College Campus Police) should create e-bike and e-scooter User Education Course (similar to driver education for autos).
R2.6 Municipal governments should update permit agreements to require electric scooter and electric bike manufacturers to add some type of warning signal on their devices such as a horn or buzzer.
R2.7 LA County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles County CEO, and Los Angeles City Mayor and City Council, and other major local city governments should support the passage of AB 381.
47 COMMENDATIONS
The MMD Committee would like to thank all of the individuals at UCLA Police Department, El Camino Community College, Cal/State/Los Angeles, Commuter Services/Transportation Department, Deputies at Los Angeles South West College, Compton Community College, the Sheriff at Los Angeles City College and West Los Angeles College, the Transportation Department of the City of Glendale, City of Inglewood and the City of Long Beach for taking the time to speak with the MMD Committee. Your input in this investigation was important to us. 48 REQUIRED RESPONSES
California Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05 require a written response to all recommendations contained in this report. Responses by elected County officials and agency heads shall be made no later than sixty (60) days after the CGJ publishes its report and files with the Clerk of the Court. Responses by the governing body of public agencies shall be made ninety (90) days after the CGJ publishes its report and files with the Clerk of the Court. Responses shall be made in accord with Penal Code Sections 933.05(a) and (b).
All responses to the recommendations of the 2023-2024 Los Angeles CGJ must be submitted to:
Presiding Judge
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center
Los Angeles County Grand Jury
210 West Temple Street, 13th Floor, Room 13-303
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Responses are required from:
RECOMMENDATIONS RESPONDING AGENCY
R2.2, R2.3, R2.6, R2.7 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors R2.2, R2.3, R2.6, R2.7 Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office R2.2, R2.3, R2.6, R2.7 City of Los Angeles
R2.2, R2.3, R2.6, R2.7 City Council, City of Los Angeles R2.3 Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 Los Angeles Police Department
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 Long Beach Police Department
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 City Council, City of Long Beach
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 City Council, City of Glendale
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 City Council, City of Santa Monica
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 City Council, City of Santa Clarita
R2.1, R2.4, R2.5 Los Angeles Community College District 49 COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Joan M. Alexander, Chair
Victoria King, Co-Chair
Nicola Lamb
Wayne Dodd
50