8B
Date: January 13, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Rebecca Poirier, City Clerk
By: Robert Williams, Deputy City Clerk I | [email protected] Subject: SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 3963
RECOMMENDATION
Second and Final Reading of ORDINANCE NO. 3963 amending Chapter 2 of Division 6 by amending Sections 62.1.1, 62.1.2, 62.1.3, 62.1.4, 62.1.8, repealing Sections 62.1.9, 62.1.10,
62.1.11, 62.1.12, 62.1.13, 62.2.1, 62.2.2, 62.2.3, 62.2.4, 62.2.5, 62.2.6, 62.2.8, 62.2.9,62.2.10,
62.2.11, 62.2.12, and adding Sections 62.1.14, 62.1.15, 62.1.16 of the Torrance Municipal Code regulating bicycle use in the City of Torrance; and amending Chapter 9 of Division 4 by amending Section 49.2.7 to the Torrance Municipal Code regulating the use of parks and approval of the Ordinance Summary for publication. This item is for consideration of adoption of the ordinance only. The item was previously discussed, and action was taken at a prior council meeting.
FUNDING
None required.
DISCUSSION
At the regular meeting of the City Council held on December 16, 2025, this Ordinance was discussed, introduced, and approved for its first reading by the following roll call vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS Gerson, Kaji, Kalani, Lewis, Mattucci, Sheikh, and Mayor Chen.
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ABSTAIN: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
RECUSED: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS None.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 3963
2. Ordinance Summary
1 ORDINANCE NO. 3963
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 2 OF
DIVISION 6 BY AMENDING SECTIONS 62.1.1, 62.1.2, 62.1.3,
62.1.4, 62.1.8, REPEALING SECTIONS 62.1.9, 62.1.10,
62.1.11, 62.1.12, 62.1.13, 62.2.1, 62.2.2, 62.2.3, 62.2.4, 62.2.5,
62.2.6, 62.2.8, 62.2.9,62.2.10, 62.2.11, 62.2.12, AND ADDING SECTIONS 62.1.14, 62.1.15, 62.1.16 OF THE TORRANCE
MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING BICYCLE USE IN THE CITY
OF TORRANCE; AND AMENDING CHAPTER 9 OF DIVISION
4 BY AMENDING SECTION 49.2.7 TO THE TORRANCE
MUNICIPAL CODE REGULATING THE USE OF PARKS
WHEREAS, the City of Torrance is committed to promoting safe, sustainable, and accessible mobility options for all residents, visitors, and roadway users; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the growing popularity and widespread use of bicycles, electric bicycles, and other micromobility devices within the community, including among youth and school-aged riders; and
WHEREAS, the increased use of electric bicycles has resulted in more reports of unsafe riding behaviors, collisions, injuries, and near -miss incidents throughout the City, including in parks, business corridors, residential neighborhoods, and school zones; and
WHEREAS, the California Vehicle Code provides general rules for bicycle and electric bicycle operation but does not address several local concerns related to unsafe riding, excessive speed, multi-use path conflicts, and conduct within parks and other City facilities; and
WHEREAS, existing provisions in the Torrance Municipal Code related to bicycle operation and park use do not provide sufficient enforcement authority that reflect current transportation technology; and
WHEREAS, the City has received ongoing concerns from residents, businesses, schools, and community organizations regarding high-speed riding, sidewalk conflicts, group riding behaviors, failure to yield to pedestrians, and improper riding within City parks and other public spaces; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to adopt reasonable regulations that support active transportation while also preventing hazardous, disruptive, and unsafe conduct on City streets, sidewalks, and recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, safe operation of bicycles and electric bicycles is necessary to protect pedestrians, children, seniors, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable roadway users who rely on City infrastructure for daily travel; and
WHEREAS, the City has the authority to promote public health, safety, and general welfare; and
2 ATTACHMENT 1
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of this Ordinance is in the best interest of the community and will help mitigate the risks associated with unsafe and unlawful operation of bicycles and electric bicycles within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City finds that the following will best serve the public’s health, safety, and general welfare.
NOW, THEREFORE , THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TORRANCE DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1
Section 62.1.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.1 DEFINITION.
The term bicycle shall mean and include every device denominated as a bicycle by Sections 231 and 312.5 of the California Vehicle Code, and as may be subsequently amended by State law. An electric bicycle is a bicycle.”
SECTION 2
Section 62.1.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.2 TRAFFIC LAWS APPLY TO PERSONS RIDING BICYCLES.
Every person operating a bicycle shall be subject to Article 4 of Chapter 1 of Division 11 of the California Vehicle Code and the provisions of Chapter 1 of this Division applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter and except as to those provisions which, by their nature, can have no application.”
SECTION 3
Section 62.1.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.3 RIDING IN A GROUP.
Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.”
SECTION 4
Section 62.1.4 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.4 RIDING ON SIDEWALKS.
a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within any business district as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 235, and as may be subsequently amended by State law, or upon the sidewalk adjacent to any public school property, church, recreation center or playground.
b) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right- of-way to any pedestrian, and when overtaking or passing a pedestrian, after giving an audible signal, shall at all times, pass to the left of such pedestrian. 3 c) No person shall ride a class 3 electric bicycle, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 312.5, and as may be subsequently amended by State law, upon any sidewalk.”
SECTION 5
Section 62.1.8 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.8 PARKING.
a) No person shall leave a bicycle standing, unattended or otherwise parked upon the driveways, paths, or grounds of the Civic Center of the City of Torrance. Bicycles may only be parked in designated bicycle rack areas.
b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section, will be guilty of an infraction.”
SECTION 6
Section 62.1.14 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be added to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.14 UNSAFE SPEED PROHIBITED
a) No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic conditions, the conditions of the surface and width of the path, roadway, or sidewalk, the environmental conditions at the time, and the design, condition, and functional limitations of the bicycle, including its braking system, tires, and safety equipment, as well as the protective gear worn by the rider, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
SECTION 7
Section 62.1.15 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be added to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.15 STUNT RIDING PROHIBITED
a) No person shall engage in stunt riding on any public street, sidewalk, alley, park, plaza, off- street parking facility, trail, or path.
b) Stunt riding means operating a bicycle or electric bicycle in a manner not intended by the manufacturer, including but not limited to riding on one wheel (wheelie), standing or sitting on the handlebars, top tube, pegs, seat, or frame, spinning the rear wheel in place, intentionally causing the bicycle to lose traction, or engaging in other acrobatic or trick maneuvers not consistent with safe operation.”
SECTION 8
Section 62.1.16 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be added to read in its entirety as follows:
“62.1.16 USE OF HANDHELD DEVICES PROHIBITED
(a) A person shall not ride a bicycle while holding and operating a handheld wireless telephone or an electronic wireless communications device unless the wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device is specifically designed and configured to allow voice-operated and hands-free operation, and it is used in that manner while riding the bicycle. (b) This section shall not apply to manufacturer-installed systems that are embedded in the bicycle or its equipment.
4 (c) A handheld wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device may be operated in a manner requiring the use of the rider’s hand while operating a bicycle only if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The handheld wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device is mounted on the bicycle’s handlebars or frame in a manner that does not hinder the rider’s view of the roadway or surroundings.
(2) The rider’s hand is used to activate or deactivate a feature or function of the handheld wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device with the motion of a single swipe or tap of the rider’s finger.
(d) This section does not apply to a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other emergency services professional using an electronic wireless communications device while operating a bicycle in the course and scope of their duties.”
SECTION 9
Section 49.2.7 of the Torrance Municipal Code shall be amended to read in its entirety as follows:
“49.2.7 USE OF PARKS.
a) No person shall play upon, use, occupy, or participate in any activity, including but not limited to skating, skateboarding, or riding or driving any bicycle, motor scooter, motorcycle, or other vehicle, or permit others to play upon, use, occupy, or participate in any activity, including but not limited to skating, skateboarding, or riding or driving any bicycle, motor scooter, motorcycle, or other vehicle, in or upon a park, park facility, playground, court, pool or structure, in a manner not intended for such play, use, occupancy, or participation.
b) No person shall disturb, displace, or move any building, monument, sign, fence, bench, structure, apparatus, equipment, nor shall any person cut, remove, injure, or destroy, any tree, plant, shrub, bloom or flower, or any portion thereof, wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel or other property in any park, playground, court, pool or structure. This subsection (b) shall not apply to a duly authorized city employee or city contractor in performance of their duties.
c) No person shall erect, construct, equip, build, form, use, transport, or otherwise cause to exist, any skate, skateboard, bicycle, motorcycle, or other vehicle, or pedestrian ramp, jump, or other similar structures in any park, playground, court, pool or structure, including park parking lots and adjacent sidewalks or roadways.
d) Vehicles or equipment of the City or of a contractor employed by the City shall not be prohibited from driving or operating within any park, playground, court, pool or structure in the normal course of maintenance, construction or repair. e) No person shall ride a class 3 electric bicycle, as defined by California Vehicle Code section 312.5, and as may be subsequently amended by State law, in any park, playground, court, pool or structure.”
SECTION 10
That Section 62.1.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 11
That Section 62.1.10 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
5 SECTION 12
That Section 62.1.11 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 13
That Section 62.1.12 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 14
That Section 62.1.13 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 15
That Section 62.2.1 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 16
That Section 62.2.2 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 17
That Section 62.2.3 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 18
That Section 62.2.4 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 19
That Section 62.2.5 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 20
That Section 62.2.6 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 21
That Section 62.2.8 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 22
That Section 62.2.9 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 23
That Section 62.2.10 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 24
That Section 62.2.11 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety. 6 SECTION 25
That Section 62.2.12 of the Torrance Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
SECTION 26
Any provisions of the Torrance Municipal Code or its appendices, or any other ordinances of the City inconsistent with this ordinance to the extent of the inconsistencies and no further, are repealed.
SECTION 27
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision will not affect the validity of the remaining portions of the ordinance. The City Council declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentence, clauses or phrases are declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 28
This ordinance will take effect thirty days after the date of its adoption. Within fifteen days following adoption, this ordinance or a summary of this ordinance, if authorized by the City Council, will be published at least once in the Daily Breeze, a new spaper of general circulation, published and circulated in the city of Torrance.
INTRODUCED and APPROVED this 16th day of December 2025.
ADOPTED and PASSED this 13th day of January 2026.
Mayor George K. Chen
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
PATRICK Q. SULLIVAN, City Attorney
by:
Tatia Y. Strader, Assistant City Attorney
ATTEST:
Rebecca Poirier, MMC, City Clerk
7 ORDINANCE NO. 3963 SUMMARY
On January 13, 2025, the City Council of the City of Torrance adopted Ordinance No. 3963, an ordinance that amends Chapter 2 of Division 6 by amending section s 62.1.1, 62.1.2, 62.1.3,
62.1.4, 62.1.8 , repealing sections 62.1.9, 62.1.10, 62.1.11, 62.1.12, 62.1.13, 62.2.1, 62.2.2,
62.2.3, 62.2.4, 62.2.5, 62.2.6, 62.2.8, 62.2.9,62.2.10, 62.2.11, 62.2.12, and adding sec tions
62.1.14, 62.1.15, 62.1.16 of the Torrance Municipal Code related to bicycle use; and amends Chapter 9 of Division 4 by amending section 49.2.7 regulating the use of parks. 8 ATTACHMENT 2