TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Rachel Johnson, Chief of Police
Andrew Enriquez, Police Captain
SUBJECT:Title
Discuss Electric Bike (E-Bike) Safety Update (Police Chief Johnson).
(Estimated Time: 30 Mins.)
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no fiscal implications associated with the recommended action.
BACKGROUND:
At the May 16, 2023 meeting, City Council directed staff to research and present information related to electric bikes (e-bikes), to include safety, enforcement and education in Manhattan Beach and surrounding cities.
E-Bikes are currently classified under three categories: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.
Class 1 e-bikes are pedal-assisted electric bicycles that can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. In California, Class 1 e-bikes are treated similarly to traditional bicycles, and the following laws apply to children:
- E-bike riders must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet.
- E-bikes are allowed on bicycle paths, trails, lanes, and roadways unless otherwise specified by local authorities.
Class 2 e-bikes are throttle-assisted electric bicycles that can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. In California, Class 2 e-bikes are subject to the same laws as Class 1 e-bikes, with the addition of the following regulations:
- The e-bike must have a functioning throttle that allows for propulsion without pedaling.
- The throttle must disengage when the rider stops pedaling or when the brakes are applied.
Class 3 e-bikes are speed pedal-assisted electric bicycles that can reach speeds of up to 28 miles per hour. California law treats Class 3 e-bikes similarly to Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, with the exception that individuals under 16 years of age are not allowed to operate them.
There has been an additional two-wheeled vehicle seen in Manhattan Beach and surrounding cities. Initially it was thought to be an e-bike; however, upon further inspection and research, it was determined to be electric motorcycle. These motorcycles do not fall under the defined classes of e-bikes and they are not legal for operation on the street by anyone.
DISCUSSION:
Enforcement
Under the California Vehicle Code (CVC), bicycles must obey many of the same rules of the road as vehicles (stopping for stop signs, obeying turn restrictions, riding with the flow of traffic, etc.) Additionally, the CVC requires riders under eighteen years of age to wear a properly fitted and secure helmet when operating a bicycle or electric bicycle. The CVC does not differentiate between electric and standard bicycles in the regulations beyond determining the aforementioned electric bicycle classifications.
In addition to rules under the California Vehicle Code, there are also sections in the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code that allow the Police Department to enforce laws around the operation of bicycles and e-bikes. While recent legislation (Assembly Bill 1909, approved by Governor Newsom in September 2022) allows cities to adopt bicycle licensing requirements, it prohibits the requirement that bicycles be licensed in order to operate them in a specific jurisdiction.
Throughout the year, the Manhattan Beach Police Department Patrol and Traffic Sections have conducted five specific enforcement operations focused on e-bike and pedal bike violations. They have focused efforts around schools, in the Downtown Area and other areas in town frequented by large groups of e-bike and bicycle users.
Surrounding agencies have collaborated with the Manhattan Beach Police Department, focusing on directed enforcement in the beach cities. More dates are being planned during the summer months to conduct focused efforts with bicycle patrol units, specifically with locations in the beach cities where juveniles are frequently congregating on e-bikes and bicycles.
Education
In August of 2022, Assembly Bill 1946 passed and requires the California Highway Patrol to develop statewide safety and training programs based on evidence-based practices for users of electric bicycles, as defined, including, but not limited to, general electric bicycle riding safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road, and laws pertaining to electric bicycles. The bill would require, by September 1, 2023, the safety and training programs to be developed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and to be posted on the webpage of the department.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District and Beach Cities Health District collaborated over the 2022-2023 school year to conduct bicycle safety education assemblies. The School Resource Officers provided instruction to students and staff at several schools within the district, including hosting seven different bicycle safety assemblies.
The Community Affairs Section of the Police Department has been utilizing social media platforms to inform and educate the public on safe e-bike use, including safety tips for parents and children. In addition to safety tips, these messages have included information on upcoming bicycle enforcement operations, photographs and information on the electric motorcycles that are not legal to operate on the street by anyone, and information on the bicycle safety assemblies facilitated by the School Resource Officers.
Additionally, staff attended the “Streets for All” event through Beach Cities Health District. These events focus on spreading public education messages about street safety to residents of all ages and spotlighting the need for increased safety measures along highly trafficked corridors. Among other things, this campaign encourages bicyclists to stop at stop signs and ride in the direction of traffic, promoting sharing the road for all users.
The Manhattan Beach Police Department Traffic Section is working with a vendor to conduct a bicycle safety event and demonstration. The goal is to have this event take place prior to the start of the 2023-2024 school year. The event will be promoted through the City’s Communication and Civic Engagement Office and all relevant social media platforms.
Surrounding City Efforts
The City of Redondo Beach has experienced an increase in e-bike congestion involving juveniles, primarily in the Riviera Village section of the City. The Redondo Beach Police Department has been conducting similar education and enforcement actions as Manhattan Beach.
The City of El Segundo has hosted e-bike events, and the police department has engaged in a similar education and enforcement campaign as Manhattan Beach.
The City of Torrance has not experienced similar issues with e-bike users as other beach cities, but they have offered traffic and bicycle patrol officers to assist with directed enforcement actions.
The Cities of Hawthorne and Gardena have not been experiencing issues with e-bike users in their cities, but they have offered traffic and bicycle patrol officers to assist with directed enforcement actions.
The City of Palos Verdes Estates has experienced an increase in e-bike users in the City; however, their challenge lies with electric bike users riding on the equestrian trails rather than on the roadway.
CONCLUSION:
The proliferation of electric bikes since the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unique challenges to coastal communities. Following an education campaign during the school year, staff is presently focused on enforcement to ensure all roadway users are adhering to applicable laws. Staff will continue to provide enforcement via regular patrols as well as local and regional directed enforcement operations. Staff recommends the City Council discuss and provide direction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The subject request is not a “project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.