Oxnard recently joined other cities in Ventura County in establishing more up-to-date enforcement of electric bicycles, or e-bikes, and like other cities, it is also leaving room for youth education.
On July 30, the City Council voted unanimously
to pass an ordinance that regulates e-bikes, from defining what they are to establishing a system for penalties, impoundment and mandatory safety education, according to city officials.“E-bike riders have to follow the same rules bicyclists do,” said police Sgt. Michael Gens by phone Aug. 11.
The Oxnard Police Department already enforces e-bikes like other bicycles, but the ordinance expands those rules to better button up some minor but important gaps, Gens said.
During the meeting, Council member Aaron
Starr disagreed with the ordinance's language exempting city officials, such as police, from enforcement while performing their duties. Despite the objection, Starr still voted yes.
Upon adoption, the ordinance will be phased in over a year, the city presentation says.
What is an e-bike?
The California Department of Motor Vehicles defines an e-bike, as “a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts.”
The DMV also breaks down e-bikes into three different categories:
- Class 1- A pedal-assisted bicycle with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, with a limit of 20 mph.
- Class 2- A throttle-assisted bicycle equipped with a motor used exclusively to propel the bicycle. The bicycle does not provide throttle assistance when 20 mph is reached.
- Class 3: A pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a speedometer and a motor that assists up to 28 mph.
Class 3 bicycles are only allowed to be operated by individuals who are 16 years old and above, wearing a helmet, in a bicycle lane and not transporting passengers.
The DMV also advises that riders follow local ordinances that might have additional regulations.
Electric motorcycles that look similar to e-bikes have grown in popularity. The difference between the two is that electric motorcycles operate outside of e-bike classes and can reach speeds up to 60 mph without pedaling, law enforcement officials previously said.
What kind of rules for e-bikes does Oxnard have?
E-bikes follow the same rules as non-motorized bicycles, such as the helmet requirement for minors, riding in bike lanes or on the rightmost edge of the road and riding in the direction of traffic, Gens said.
E-bike rules differ in that only certain classes are allowed for children under the age of 16, and the bikes cannot be modified to go faster than the manufacturer or state allows.
The city and police department aim to rollout an e-bike safety course by Oct. 1, 2027, which, much like the county already does for vehicle fines, allows offenders to avoid paying a fine by instead taking the course, Gens said.
The system will follow a one-strike policy in which those who receive a fine can defer to a safety course only once for a certain period of time, and the next strike will be a fine, the sergeant added.
Fines will also get progressively more expensive for each violation, Gens said. Non-compliant vehicles such as e-motorcycles can also be impounded, city officials said.
Along with safety programs, the city is looking at enforcing speed limits for e-bikes in certain parts of the city, officials said.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard passes e-bike regulations, education for youth offenders
