Redondo Beach Considers E-Bike Ordinance In Response To Complaints

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Redondo Beach is considering creating a specific ordinance for e-bike enforcement in response to a sharp increase in citations over the summer months.

At the Aug. 5 Redondo Beach City Council meeting, Chief of Police Joe Hoffman presented a six-month update on e-bike usage within the city. Since February, police have issued 135 citations for e-bike violations and most recently issued 11 citations in just one week, Hoffman said.

According to Chief Hoffman, the primary infractions e-bike riders are getting cited for are stop sign violations, not wearing helmets for those under 18 and having passengers on bicycles illegally.

"Enforcement for these types of violations is meant to correct behavior and not be punitive," Chief Hoffman said. "What we're really trying to do here with the enforcement is encourage safe operation of e-bikes and prevent people from being injured."

In an effort to promote better habits for young people riding e-bikes, the Redondo Beach Unified School District is partnering with the police department to provide training to students. Starting with grades six to eight, students who want to park their bikes at their school will be required to take an e-bike training course.

After completing the training, students will be given stickers that permit them to park on school grounds. By next month, the school district is hoping to have 600 to 800 students trained according to Hoffman.

"It's an excellent opportunity for the police department to help out in any way that we can, by partnering to work with the school district," Hoffman said.

Redondo Beach has also pursued partnerships with nearby cities to address e-bike enforcement. Both Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach have created ordinances regulating e-bike use, including speed limits, operational standards and fines for violations.

In Manhattan Beach, first-time violations incur a $500 fine and go up to $750 for a second violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation within the same year. In Hermosa Beach

first-time violations incur a $250 fine and go up to $500 for a second violation and $750 for each subsequent violation within the same year

"I think that the combined effort, as long as everybody is engaged in the enforcement activity, is going to have a positive effect throughout the entire South Bay," Hoffman said.