The Coronado City Council has decided to move forward with a safety ordinance or resolution that would prohibit children under the age of 12 from riding certain classes of e-bikes.
E-bike safety has been a significant issue in Coronado’s mayoral and City Council campaigns, and in the last two years some coastal communities in northern San Diego County have declared local emergencies following deadly e-bike crashes.
The issue is even raising concern among the youth, as Coronado Girl Scout Troop 6203 urged the City Council on Oct. 15 to expand the community’s safety measures.
“Currently, Coronado municipal code chapter 56 restricts riding any e-bikes on sidewalks in business areas,” 10-year-old Juliet Bishop said during a public comment session. “However, our troop believes that the council should pass a resolution to expand the rule everywhere in Coronado because we think it would make everyone feel safer.”
Assembly Bill 2234 was introduced in February by Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, who represents coastal cities in San Diego County. The bill, signed into law last month by Gov. Gavin Newsom, takes effect Jan. 1, 2025, for any local government in San Diego County which chooses to adopt an ordinance or resolution.
Coronado’s measure would forbid children under age 12 from operating Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes, which have motors to provide pedal assistance up until the bike reaches a speed of 20 mph.
Tony Winney, the assistant city manager, urged the council to adopt a resolution or ordinance along with several other safety recommendations.
As law currently stands in Coronado, anyone under the age of 18 can operate a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike as long as they wear a helmet. Those who operate a Class 3 e-bike, which can reach 28 mph, must be 16 years or older and wear a helmet, regardless of age.
All five council members voted in favor of the recommendation to prohibit children under 12 from operating an e-bike, but not before Mayor Richard Bailey asked the police chief to clarify how his department will enforce the rule, given scenarios where it is difficult to identify a child’s age.
“Just simply we’d call the parent,” Chief Rick Martinez said. “Most kids that are out and about have cell phones on them anyway, so we’d just have them call their parent to verify (their) age.”
For the first 60 days following this ordinance’s implementation, violators will get a warning. After 60 days, violators will get a citation carrying a fine of $25.
While the council approved this recommendation, the measure will not immediately go into effect, as city staff first needs to return to the council with a final draft of an ordinance or resolution. At that point, the council will again consider adoption.
Other e-bike recommendations
In addition, the City Council accepted two other recommendations in a unanimous vote.
The first is to bar the use of motorized mobility devices – including e-bikes, electronic motorized boards and motorized scooters – on all city sidewalks, The Paseo near Hotel Del, the boardwalk near the Coronado Shores and the promenade along the Glorietta Bay Marina.
Those locations are in addition to others where those vehicles already are prohibited: public beaches, parks, the golf course, medians, any sidewalk along Orange Avenue, Avenida De Las Arenas and public streets unless crossing an intersection.
City employees and persons requiring disability accommodations are exempt from this rule.
The council also agreed to consider a partnership with the Coronado Unified School District in enforcing e-bike rules and regulations. For instance, in other cities, students need to attend an e-bike safety class in order to park on campus.
Council members Casey Tanaka and Carrie Downey, who are on a joint committee with two school board members, said they will raise the issue with school officials, but not without concern.
“I am happy to discuss it with them and see what they have to say about it, but I’m worried about unintended consequences,” Downey said, noting that kids with e-bikes might cause additional safety issues by simply parking off campus.
City staff also proposed an increase in fines for e-bike violations – a recommendation rejected by the council.
The council did not set a date for a final decision on the new e-bike regulations.
