Officials in Santa Ana, home to the county government, are jumping into one of OC’s most persistent debates – how to curb a worsening trend of deaths, injuries and felonies related to reckless e-bike riding in the region.
Some officials and residents say the solution should be focusing on educating kids on safe riding and enforcing new laws and regulations while others say the region is lacking proper infrastructure to keep young riders safe.
In the past couple of years, city officials throughout Orange County have been overhauling local laws aimed at addressing unsafe e-bike riders in effort to curb a sharp spike in electric bicycle related injuries with the growing popularization of the mode of transportation.
Last week, Santa Ana City Council members became
Last week, Santa Ana City Council members became the latest to do just that, voting unanimously without discussion to introduce an ordinance banning riding on playgrounds, implementing speed limits, allowing the citation parents of minors who ride recklessly and allowing officers to temporarily confiscate or impound electric bicycles.
“We all know, electric bicycles have become increasingly popular,” Santa Ana Police Sgt. Travis Johnson said at the Oct. 20 meeting. “This ordinance is intended to give riders clear expectations, provide officers with appropriate enforcement and safekeeping authority, and most importantly, promote education and safer riding behaviors throughout the city.”
Johnson added, “we recognize that e-bikes are an affordable and a valuable form of transportation. So this ordinance is not to discourage the use; it’s to simply improve and encourage safe and responsible use of them.”
The new rules are rolling out after police
The new rules are rolling out after police officials say there have been five e-bike related deaths in the city in the past three years, including an e-bike related death on Aug. 11 at Santiago Street and Santa Ana Blvd.
Meanwhile at their 5 p.m. Tuesday meeting, Anaheim officials are expected to receive an update from police officials there about their efforts to enforce their own e-bike rules, educate people on safe riding and future strategies to curb injuries including an officer training course.
“The increasing use of electric bicycles and electric motorcycles throughout Anaheim and California has raised public safety concerns regarding rider injuries and unsafe operating practices,” reads an Anaheim staff report.
To strengthen enforcement and education, the department
“To strengthen enforcement and education, the department is developing a 16-hour officer training course on the laws governing electric bicycles and electric motorcycles.”
It’s not just city officials.
OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer is also cracking down on reckless riding by prosecuting parents who knowingly allowed their kids to ride irresponsibly or helped modify the bikes.
Last week, Spitzer’s office announced that county prosecutors are filing child endangerment charges against six more parents throughout the county.
Spitzer’s office is also charging two parents
Spitzer’s office is also charging two parents with child endangerment after their 13-year old son died after crashing his e-motorcycle in Garden Grove in May, with prosecutors alleging the father was issued multiple warnings about his son’s unsafe riding and illegal e-moto before the crash.
Last month, Spitzer held an e-bike buyback – a program typically held for getting firearms off the street – at Angel Stadium as part of an effort to reduce deaths related to e-bike crashes.
New Rules in Santa Ana
Under the new ordinance, Santa Ana riders are banned from going over 5 mph near school zones or when pedestrians are present, banned from going 10 mph on the sidewalks and barred from carrying more passengers than the e-bike can handle, doing wheelies or jumps.
The law will also prohibit e-bike enthusiasts
The law will also prohibit e-bike enthusiasts from riding on the sidewalks at the civic center, playgrounds, public sports fields and dirt walking paths.
It also allows police officers to temporarily confiscate an e-bike if a minor is found breaking the rules and their parents aren’t around, holding the mode of transport until it can be released to their guardians.
Beyond that, the ordinance allows officers to impound Class 3 E-bikes – bikes with motors that help the rider go up 28 mph – from kids under the age of 16 for 48 hours.
It also allows officers to ticket parents
It also allows officers to ticket parents that let their kids break the new rules.
Those who break the rules three times or more in a year can face up to $250 in fines.
Hosam Elattar is a Voice of OC reporter. Contact him at helattar@voiceofoc.org.
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