That the City Council consider the development of an e-bike ordinance for the City of La Habra and provide direction to staff.

Electric bicycles (e-bikes) have become increasingly popular with consumers, and frequently used in La Habra and throughout Orange County, providing affordable, efficient, and environmentally friendly mobility options. However, the rapid growth and use of powerful and fast e-bikes, particularly among minors and inexperienced riders, has raised concerns about public safety, compliance with traffic laws, and pedestrian interactions. E-bikes pose a higher risk of serious accidents and injuries when compared to conventional manually peddled bicycles.

In 2024, the Orange County Grand Jury (Grand Jury) issued a report titled “E-Bikes: Friend or Foe” (Attachment 1), which examined the impact of e-bikes on local communities, highlighted regulatory gaps, and recommended that cities adopt or update policies that define the rules of the road for use of e-bikes, establish a mechanism to report accidents/injuries/deaths, and develop education/outreach programs related to e-bike usage.

In response to the Grand Jury’s findings and growing community concern, staff proposes the development of an ordinance to regulate the operation of e-bikes in the City of La Habra. The ordinance would seek to balance the benefits of e-bike use with the need to protect public safety, particularly in areas frequented by pedestrians, bicyclists, and motor vehicles. If approved by City Council, the proposed ordinance would be designed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of La Habra residents, businesses, and visitors by regulating the operation of electric mobility devices. The City supports the usage of electric mobility devices as an alternative mode of transportation, but recognizes that increased usage has created safety concerns among operator interactions with other pedestrians, bicyclists and motor vehicles, warranting a higher level of regulation. In conjunction with the development of an ordinance, the La Habra Police Department (LHPD) will also utilize computer-aided dispatching (CAD) and records management systems (RMS) already in place to track accidents, injuries, and deaths related to e-bikes. 

Lastly, if an ordinance is adopted by City Council, LHPD will establish marketing, training, and education platforms for the community, as well as specifically designed for school-aged children in the Fullerton Joint Union High School District (Sonora and La Habra high schools), at Whittier Christian High School, at the Lowell Joint School District (LJDS), and at the La Habra City School District (LHCSD). The LHPD will also develop e-bike safety tips for school campuses that can be provided through School Resource Officers (SROs), as well as offering on-line courses through the California Bicycle Coalition, and printed materials that can be made available at campuses and community events. The LHPD's goal will be to coordinate and partner with the local school districts and private schools to distribute information about e-bike safety through existing social media accounts and direct interaction. 

The LHPD is committed to community safety and responsible mobility options and recommends that the City Council direct staff to develop an e-bike ordinance that will reflect best practices in e-bike regulation and safety guidelines. If so directed, staff will develop a proposed e-bike ordinance and schedule a public hearing at a future City Council meeting to present the proposed regulation to City Council for review and approval. 

There is minimal fiscal impact associated with City Council directing staff to develop a proposed e-bike ordinance and to schedule a public hearing for its review. However, if an ordinance is ultimately approved by City Council, there will be some nominal future costs associated with implementing the new regulations, primarily associated with the development and distribution of outreach/educational materials, and the installation of new signage. There are several existing park and trail rules and regulations signs that will also require updating should the City Council approve an e-bike ordinance.