Column: Chula Vista cracks down on e-bikes; will others follow?

As youth e-bike use explodes across the region, cities will face rising pressure to regulate safety and rider behavior

Two kids ride an e-bike on a sidewalk in Carlsbad Village on Tuesday before riding on the street. E-bikes have become a growing concern and now cities, such as Chula Vista, are laying down strict regulations. Steve Puterski photo

NORTH COUNTY — E-bikes have taken the region by storm, and now the hammer is starting to fall.

What began as a great way for kids to expand their sphere of influence has evolved into something else. Many incidents of unruly behavior, sketchy riding, no reflective gear and more are a near-daily occurrence.

As such, cities are launching a crackdown on youth riders amid a torrent of complaints from residents, some of whom are furious, while others are concerned. For example, the city of Chula Vista slammed its hammer when it approved banning children 12 or younger from riding an e-bike on July 8 during the first reading of its ordinance.

Chula Vista’s ordinance also restricts all types of e-bikes from sidewalks in business districts and roads with 40 mph speed limits or greater, and makes helmets mandatory for those under age 18, according to inewsource. The council will vote again on July 22 to formally adopt the ordinance.

Chula Vista is leveraging Assembly Bill 2234, which was authored by Assemblywoman Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas). Boerner’s law was enacted on Jan. 1, 2024, and is a pilot program specific to San Diego County until Jan. 1, 2029.

The law allows jurisdictions to ban kids 12 or younger from riding a Class 1 or 2 e-bike, which can reach speeds of 20 mph. Upon being approved by a city or the county, law enforcement must grant warnings for 60 days, and a parent or guardian is jointly liable for any fine, among other provisions.

As the e-bike issue has swelled, Del Mar and Coronado have also implemented new regulations on e-bikes, inewsource reported, albeit not as harsh as Chula Vista.