CITY COUNCIL MEETING
August 6, 2024
Chief Joe Hoffman
Redondo Beach City Council
Six Month E-Bike Update
CITY COUNCIL SIX MONTH
E-BIKE UPDATE REQUESTS
▪ Status of Increased Enforcement
▪ Status of Community Meetings, Outreach and Feedback
▪ Status of Assembly Bills
▪ Status of Bicycle Diversion programs
▪ Status of enforcement statutes
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
INCREASED E-BIKE ENFORCEMENT
In the past 6 months, the Redondo Beach Police Department has been actively enforcing laws concerning E-Bikes, resulting in the issuance of The primary infractions leading to these citations were the following:
Absence of Helmets
Failure to Stop at Posted Stop Signs
Riding with Passengers Illegally
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND E-BIKE FEEDBACK
The Police Department conducted several community outreach events throughout the City in regards to E-Bike concerns. Below are the following events the Police Department hosted or attended:
Town Hall Style Meetings at Alta Vista Park and Anderson Park North Redondo Beach Business Association and Riviera Village Association Meetings Neighborhood Watch Block Captain/Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association Meeting Social Media Polling
E-Bike Safety Seminar at Redondo Union High School
Meeting with Local E-Bike Recreation Group (E Crew LA)
Police Department hosted Bike Rodeo
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND E-BIKE FEEDBACK
After conducting this outreach and obtaining community feedback, there were several overlapping complaints and solutions proposed.
Below is a summary of the most common feedback:
Traffic Law Violations Primarily by Youthful or Juvenile Riders Increased Enforcement Needed
Punishments Not Adequate for Offenders
Parents of Juvenile Violators should also receive Consequences Some Type of Education or Licensure should be Required for Riding an E-Bike Continued on Next Page
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND E-BIKE FEEDBACK
Summary of the most common feedback continued:
Establishing “Bike Friendly” Travel Map in the City that can be Shared with Residents and Patrons
Managing Privileges of Juvenile Riders
(Such as having to pass a class to be able to park an E-Bike on a School Campus) State Law Requiring a Driver’s License to Legally Ride an E-Bike More Bicycle Lanes and Paths throughout the City
STATUS OF ASSEMBLY BILL 530
This Bill would prohibit a person under 12 years
of age from operating an E-Bike of any class.
The Bill would create an E-Bike License
Program with an online written test and a
State-Issued Photo Identification for those
without a Valid Driver’s License.
On February 1, 2024 California Assembly Bill
530 failed at the Legislative Committee level.
REESTABLISHMENT OF A
BICYCLE DIVERSION PROGRAM
Prior to 2020, the L.A. County Torrance Municipal Court’s Traffic Court allowed individuals who had received a bicycle traffic citation to attend a Diversion Program. Once the individual showed their completion of the Diversion Course, their bicycle traffic citation was dismissed.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Torrance Traffic Court was moved to another L.A. County Municipal Courthouse and the Bicycle Diversion Program no longer existed.
THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IS EXPLORING THE REESTABLISHMENT OF A DIVERSION PROGRAM THROUGH THE L.A. COUNTY COURTS SYSTEM.
California Assembly Bill 2234 was introduced on February 8, 2024, and was last amended June 13, 2024. If adopted, this Bill, “The San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program,” would authorize the local authority within the County of San Diego to adopt an ordinance or resolution that would prohibit a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.
STATE UPDATE
CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY BILL 2234
CLASS 1 ELECTRIC BICYCLE CLASS 2 ELECTRIC BICYCLE CLASS 3 ELECTRIC BICYCLE A bicycle equipped with a
motor that provides
assistance only when the rider
is pedaling and ceases to
provide assistance when the
bicycle reaches the speed of
20 miles per hour.
A bicycle equipped with a
motor that may be used
exclusively to propel the
bicycle and is not capable of
providing assistance when the
bicycle reaches the speed of
20 miles per hour.
A bicycle equipped with a
speedometer and a motor that
provides assistance only when
the rider is pedaling, and that
ceases to provide assistance
when the bicycle reaches the
speed of 28 miles per hour.
Existing Law Prohibits a Person Under 16 Years of Age from Operating a Class 3 Electric Bicycle.
LOCAL UPDATES:
MANHATTAN BEACH
In September of 2023, the City of Manhattan Beach City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance amending the Manhattan
Beach Municipal Code establishing the following for E-Bikes:
• Speed Limit
• Safety and Operational Standards
• Location Restrictions
• Fines Associated with Violations of the Ordinance that are Increased with Each Subsequent Violation within One Year • If a Minor Commits a Violation, Parents may be Cited and Fined for the Violations of the Ordinance
LOCAL UPDATES:
HERMOSA BEACH
In June of 2024, the City of Hermosa Beach City Council adopted an Urgency Ordinance amending the Hermosa Beach Municipal Code establishing the following for E-Bikes:
• Safety and Operational Standards
• Location Restrictions
• Ability to Impound E-Bikes ridden by Juveniles under the Age of 18 who Violate the Ordinance. Following the Impound, E-Bikes would only be Released to a Responsible Adult upon Payment of a Tow Fee.
LOCAL UPDATES:
SOUTH BAY COMPARISONS
MC (ADMIN) VS. CVC SECTIONS
VIOLATION REDONDO BEACH HERMOSA BEACH MANHATTAN BEACH
Failure to Stop at Stop Sign 22450 (a) CVC 10.12.170 (D)(2) M.C. (Shall obey all traffic signs/signals)
3.01.020 (M) M.C.
(Shall stop for all highways and
traffic signals)
Red Light Violation 21453 (a) CVC 10.12.170 (D)(2) M.C. (Shall obey all traffic signs/signals)
3.01.020 (M) M.C.
(Shall stop for all highways and
traffic signals)
Speeding 22350 CVC 10.12.175 (A)(1) M.C. (Unsafe Manner)
12.20.230 (E) M.C. (The Strand)
3.01.020 (O) M.C.
(Faster than Reasonable for
Conditions)
Stunt Riding 23103 CVC 10.12.175 (A)(1) M.C. (Unsafe Manner)
12.20.230 (D) M.C. (The Strand)
3.01.020 (K)(L) M.C.
(Racing, Stunt activity)
Wrong Way on the Roadway 21650.1 CVC
10.12.170 (D)(1) M.C.
(Same direction as vehicles close to right
curb or roadway)
3.01.020 (F) M.C.
(Must ride close right curb of
roadway)
Helmets
21212(a) CVC
(<18 Yrs Old)
21213(b) CVC
(Class 3 E-Bike any age must
have helmet)
10.12.175 (A)(2) M.C. 3.01.020 (S) M.C.
Riding with a Passenger 21204(b) CVC 10.12.175 (A)(5) M.C. 3.01.020 (I) M.C LOCAL UPDATES:
REDONDO BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Starting in August of 2024, the Redondo Beach Unified School District will offer E-Bike Training, through a local partner, to All Students in Grades 6 though 8 who wish to park their e-bikes at any RBUSD school site. The E-Bike Training course will consist of 1 hour of class room instruction and 1 hour of practical instruction.
After successful completion of the course, students will be issued a sticker to place on their E-Bikes which will allow them to park at RBUSD school sites. E-bikes will be randomly checked by Administration and Campus Supervisors for sticker compliance.
RBUSD hopes to have 600-800 students trained by the end of September 2024.
REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT
E-BIKE RECOMMENDATIONS
▪ Review options for bicycle diversion
through City Attorney’s office.
▪ Continue Education /
Outreach
▪ Continue Enforcement of State
and Local Laws
▪ Continue multi-jurisdictional
enforcement details
▪ Monitor and Report back on
pending legislation