The Lake Elsinore City Council on April 28 considered a proposed ordinance to regulate electric bicycles and other electric mobility devices amid growing safety concerns, but voted unanimously to continue the item to May 12 to revise enforcement and penalty language.
The ordinance would add a new chapter to the city’s municipal code establishing rules for where and how electric bikes, scooters, and similar devices can be operated. There would also be added enforcement tools and penalties. City staff and law enforcement said the goal is to address increasing safety issues tied to growing e-bike use on the streets, trails and other public areas.
Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Capt. Mark Boydd told the council the devices have become more common in recent years and are contributing to safety problems across the region.
“Electric bicycles and e-companions are becoming more affordable,” Boydd said. “They’re very popular now. It’s a growing concern in a lot of communities.”
He cited concerns including riders not wearing helmets, unsafe speeds, inattention and failure to follow traffic laws. Boydd also explained California’s three e-bike classifications. Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes are limited to 20 miles per hour, while Class 3 e-bikes can reach up to 28 miles per hour and require riders to wear a helmet and be at least 16 years old. Boydd said e-bikes must be properly labeled with a sticker indicating their correct class.
Boydd also distinguished standard e-bikes from higher-powered electric motorcycles, including models like Surron and Talaria. He said those vehicles are not classified as e-bikes under state law and are regulated as motorcycles instead.
“These bikes have a totally separate set of rules that regulate them and govern them,” Boydd said.
The ordinance would require riders to obey all traffic laws on public streets, wear helmets for minors and Class 3 riders, and equip bikes with lights and reflectors for nighttime use. It would also prohibit stunt riding such as wheelies, set age limits for Class 3 e-bike operation and bar modifications that increase an e-bike’s speed without updating its classification label. The ordinance would restrict use in certain public areas including sidewalks, parks and school grounds unless specifically designated.
Enforcement would include citations, potential misdemeanor charges, impoundment in certain situations and mandatory safety education classes. Parents or guardians would be held financially responsible for violations involving minors.
Public comment focused on student safety. Scott Merrill, director of security for the Lake Elsinore Unified School District, said the district has seen a sharp rise in e-bike use among students along with more unsafe incidents. He later referenced a school staff member who suffered a broken back after being stuck by an e-bike rider.
“Unfortunately, this has also meant a rise in near misses, collisions, unsafe riding behaviors that put not only our students at risk, but also pedestrians and other motorists,” Merrill said.
Merill said in his previous role as Chief of Police services in Aliso Viejo, he helped implement a similar ordinance in 2022.
“I witnessed firsthand how the clear rules, consistent enforcement, and strong community education significantly reduced dangerous riding and improved safety for everyone,” he said. “These ordinances do work when schools, law enforcement, and the city are moving in the same direction.”
He said the district supports the ordinance and emphasized education alongside enforcement.
“Our goal is not punishment, it’s prevention and education. It’s keeping kids safe,” he said.
Council members generally supported the ordinance but some raised concerns about penalties and enforcement.
Council Member Steve Manos questioned whether misdemeanor-level consequences and impound fees could be too harsh.
“The penalties for this are confiscations,” Manos said. “These bikes aren’t cheap. We have people that live in this community that don’t have a wide variety of resources that can get hit. Impounding costs money.”
Council Member Brian Tisdale said the city needed to act due to rising injuries involving e-bikes, while also expressing a willingness to review penalty language.
“This is about safety, and safety for the kids, safety for everyone in the city,” Tisdale said.
Council Member Michael Carroll said the ordinance is necessary, but that discretion is also important.
“I believe that an ordinance needs to have teeth, and I believe that there are opportunities for people to become violators time and again,” Carroll said. “That being said, kids will be kids, and I completely understand that.”
Mayor Pro Tem Tim Sheridan supported moving forward with the ordinance but suggested the city conduct a six-month review after implementation to evaluate its effectiveness and determine if changes are needed.
Mayor Bob Magee ultimately proposed continuing the item to the next council meeting, saying additional time was needed to refine language and address the enforcement concerns raised by council members.
“I know that the two primary objectives here are education and enforcement,” Magee said. “In speaking with the captain and the lieutenant, they’re ready to go on the enforcement side. And we heard from Mr. Merrill today, they’re clearly ready to go on the education side. So, let’s get this done in the next two weeks.”
