New laws are coming for electric bicycles in Fullerton as city leaders join a growing list of Orange County cities cracking down on reckless e-bike riding, especially for minors.
“There are communities that have been — I’m sure social media has many examples of this — terrorized by scooter groups, e-bike groups, where they’re just disobeying traffic laws, good sense, completely operating in some sort of unsafe manner,” Fullerton Mayor Fred Jung said during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Cities across Orange County have been taking a closer look at local e-bike laws over the past several years in an attempt to keep people safe on the road, while state leaders also look to address the issue up and down California.
[Read: Cracking Down E-bikes: Orange County’s Battle for Safer Roads]
Fullerton currently doesn’t have any local laws specifically addressing e-bikes.
But that’s set to change.
During last night’s city council meeting, officials preliminarily approved new rules that prohibit “unsafe” e-bike riding on public streets, paths, trails and parks.
That means it would be against city law to swerve through traffic on an e-bike or do maneuvers like wheelies, stunts and other tricks.
The proposed ordinances would also prevent multiple riders from using a single e-bike and establish a 5 mph speed limit for e-bikes on sidewalks and a 15 mph speed limit for e-bikes on paved trails.
The regulations would also extend to electric scooters, although they are treated differently from e-bikes under state law. California vehicle code already prohibits riding electric scooters on sidewalks, for example.
The Fullerton City Council voted 4-1 in an initial vote during their meeting last night to establish the new e-bike rules. Councilmember Nicholas Dunlap voted no, saying he wanted e-bikes to be entirely barred from sidewalks.
The regulations will need a second approval from the city council at a future meeting and would become law 30 days after that.
Councilmembers are also expected to review those new rules at a council meeting in November to see if any changes or additions are needed.
“This is probably a work in progress,” Councilmember Ahmad Zahra said at the meeting. “It’s a great starting point.”
During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s meeting, some people recounted their experiences and close calls with e-bikes in town.
“After the Walk on Wilshire was dismantled, I went to go walk the street on the very first day afterward, and the first thing that happened was an e-bike almost ran into me,” one person told city council members. “Speaking as someone who rides an e-bike on occasion and also has to interact with e-bikes, I definitely see the need for this.”
Some speakers called for improved infrastructure to keep bicyclists safe on the road.
Others said e-bikes themselves pose a danger.
“Let’s be real. This is a motorcycle,” another speaker said. “It’s a mo-ed with pedals.”
Representatives from the Fullerton Police Department said they have plans to conduct presentations at local high schools to encourage safe e-bike riding after Active Transportation Committee members recommended the city conduct outreach and education before enforcement.
Orange County Eyes Reckless E-bike Riders
Fullerton’s new proposed laws come after a series of Orange County cities have passed their own local ordinances to keep bicyclists and motorists safe while also creating additional penalties for people who break the rules.
[Read: More Orange County Cities Grapple With E-bike Regulations, Youth Safety]
In Irvine, officials voted last month to tighten ordinances for e-bikes and scooters — including more responsibility for parents through citations and fines and updated speed limits on sidewalks and trails.
[Read: Irvine Cracks Down on Reckless E-bike Riding, Parents to be Held Accountable]
More than half of the cities in the county have adopted new e-bike rules that often vary from city to city.
While most local laws look to prohibit dangerous riding, some cities allow law enforcement officers to impound e-bikes. Some cities also prohibit people from riding e-bikes in certain parts of town — like parks or trails.
As of Jan. 1, new statewide e-bike laws have gone into effect, including a new regulation that requires all e-bikes to have a red rear reflector or red light visible from 500 feet at all times.
In 2024, an OC Grand Jury investigation found that all 34 Orange County cities had different rules and regulations for e-bikes, creating inconsistent enforcement and public confusion.
[Read: Orange County Grand Jury Blasts Uncoordinated Regulation of E-Bikes]
In that report, grand jurors recommended that every Orange County city should have specific policies that define rules for e-bikes.
They also recommended that every city should have a system to report e-bike accidents, injuries and deaths, and they recommended that every city should also develop outreach and education programs regarding e-bikes.
Angelina Hicks is the Voice of OC Collegiate News Service Editor. Contact her at ahicks@voiceofoc.org or on Twitter @angelinahicks13.