ORDINANCE NO. 26-0007
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH AMENDING MANHATTAN BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 3.01 RELATING TO ELECTRIC AND MOTORIZED BICYCLES AND MAKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION PURSUANT TO THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT THE MANHATTAN BEACH CITY COUNCIL HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 3.01.020 (Operation of bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles) of Chapter 3.01 (Bicycles) of Title 3 (Public Safety) of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
3.01.020 Operation of bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles.
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City unless such bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle complies with all of the following rules of the road:
A. Every bicycle, electric bicycle, and motorized bicycle shall be equipped with a brake adequate to skid the front or rear tire of the bicycle upon application of the brake.
B. Every bicycle equipped with a trailer, sidecar, or similar device must have the device securely attached to the bicycle.
C. Every bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle operated at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, and at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernable any person or vehicle on the streets or sidewalks, shall be equipped with lights affixed to the front and back of the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle, which lights shall be visible for a distance of three hundred (300) feet from the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.
D. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle on any sidewalk, except as specifically permitted in this section.
E. Minors under the age of fourteen (14) years, exercising due care and giving the pedestrian the right-of-way, may ride and operate their bicycles upon the sidewalk, except such sidewalks located adjacent to schools, religious institutions, restaurants, retail stores, the Civic Center, the Joslyn Community Center, the Metlox property, and the Los Angeles County Library.
F. Each person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle on a highway or street shall keep such bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in marked bike lanes. On streets without bike lanes, such person shall keep the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle as close to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway as possible, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction, except when preparing to make a left-hand turn; provided, however, if a highway or street carries traffic in one direction only and has two (2) or more marked traffic lanes, such persons may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as possible, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
G. Persons riding or operating bicycles, electric bicycles, or motorized bicycles in the City shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles; and provided, further than minors riding on bicycles on the sidewalk pursuant to subsection (E) shall do so in single file.
H. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall cling or attach themselves or their bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle to any other moving vehicle or persons in any other vehicle.
I. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall transport another person upon the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle unless such passenger is seated upon a separate seat attached to the vehicle. If the passenger is four (4) years of age or younger, or weighs forty (40) pounds or less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving parts of the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.
J. No person riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City shall tow any other vehicle.
K. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in a dangerous manner including, without limitation: (1) intentionally lifting one or more wheels of a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle into the air while riding on a street, bike lane or bike path; (2) intentionally swerving or riding around stopped or slowed traffic; (3) attempting to perform any acrobatic trick or stunt; or (4) operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in any manner that endangers the operator, passengers, other motorists, other riders, or pedestrians in the area.
L. No person operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall wear: (1) a headset covering both ears, (2) earplugs, or (3) earphones covering, resting on, or inserted in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to a person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing.
M. Every person operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle in the City shall comply with all traffic control devices, including but not limited to traffic signals and stop signs.
N. No person shall park any bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle against windows or parking meters or on a sidewalk such that the bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle obstructs sidewalk accessibility or passage, or in such manner as to constitute a hazard to pedestrians, traffic or property.
O. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle faster than is prudent in light of weather, visibility, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of any person or property.
P. No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle upon any playground, park, or school ground where children are playing.
Q. The operator of any bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle involved in an accident shall take reasonable steps to ascertain whether or not anyone was injured, and shall give their name, address and the serial number of their bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle to the person with whom they were in collision and obtain the same information from the other person. It shall be the duty of the operator to make a written report of any accident resulting in death or injury to the Police Department within twenty-four (24) hours of such accident.
R. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle upon any street or highway of the City while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and/or any illegal or non-prescribed drug.
S. All operators and passengers under eighteen (18) years of age shall wear a helmet properly strapped while riding or operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle.
T. Bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles must yield to pedestrians at all times.
U. Bicycles, electric bicycles, and motorized bicycles shall not exceed fifteen (15) miles per hour on the Marvin Braude Bike Path also known as the Beach Bicycle Path.
V. No person operating a bicycle, electric bicycle, or motorized bicycle shall operate a wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device.
SECTION 2. Chapter 3.01 (Bicycles) of Title 3 (Public Safety) of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended to add a new Section 3.01.060 (Enforcement) to read as follows:
“3.01.060 - Enforcement.
Each violation of this Chapter shall be a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in Section 1.04.010.A of this Code. Such violator shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every violation of any provision of this Chapter committed by such person and shall be punishable accordingly.
In the event the operator of the electric mobility device is a juvenile, officers will make a reasonable effort to contact the parent(s) or responsible guardian(s) of the operator and advise them of the nature of the violation. This shall occur at the time of the stop or as soon as practicable.
Each parent or legal guardian having custody and control of a minor who is issued a fine for violation of this Chapter shall be jointly and severally liable with such minor for payment of the fine.
D. In addition to the criminal remedy authorized by Section 1.04.010 of this Code, the City may issue an administrative citation for each violation of this Chapter pursuant to Chapter 1.06 of this Code, E. In lieu of the criminal remedy authorized by Section 1.04.010 or the administrative remedy authorized by Chapter 1.06 of this Code, , and in lieu of filing charges in any court having jurisdiction over a violation, the Police Chief or designee may allow a juvenile violator and parents of the juvenile violator to complete a diversion safety program, if available, at their expense, as assigned by the Police Department designee.” SECTION 3. Any provisions of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code, or any other resolution or ordinance of the City, to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and the City Clerk shall make any necessary changes to the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code for internal consistency.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, clause or phrase of this Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance, each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 5. CEQA Findings. This Ordinance was assessed in accordance with the authority and criteria contained in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the State CEQA Guidelines, and the environmental regulations of the City. The adoption and implementation of the Ordinance is not a project for purposes of CEQA in that it is a general policy regulating the operation of bicycles, e-bicycles, and motorized bicycles, and even if it were a project, it would be exempt from the requirements of CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the City’s updated bicycle regulations will have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause this Ordinance to be published within 15 days after its passage, in accordance with Government Code Section 36933.
ADOPTED on __________, 2026
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
______________________________
DAVID LESSER
Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________________
LIZA TAMURA
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
QUINN M. BARROW
City Attorney