TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Anthony Conrad, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Stephanie Lawson, Management Analyst - Administration
SUBJECT:
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Conduct a First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend the Murrieta Municipal Code regarding Electronic Bikes, Scooters, and Skateboards (E-Conveyances)
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RECOMMENDATION
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Introduce for a first reading Ordinance No. 605-24 entitled: An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Murrieta, California, amending Title 10 of the Murrieta Municipal Code relating to bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters and skateboards, and passenger loading and unloading of vehicles and adoption of exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On February 6, 2024, Chief of Police Anthony Conrad and Traffic Sergeant Steve Whiddon, made a presentation to the City Council regarding E-Bike safety concerns and recommendations. One recommendation was the adoption of a comprehensive E-Conveyance ordinance that law enforcement could use to discourage dangerous E-Conveyance operations.
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Provide a high level of innovative public safety.
BACKGROUND
Electric bicycles, scooters, and skateboards, known as E-Conveyances are a public safety concern. With their increasing popularity, traffic accidents involving people using E-Conveyances and motor vehicles have greatly increased. Studies have shown that people involved in E-Conveyance traffic accidents suffer serious injuries compared to traditional bicycle accidents. Additionally, E-Conveyance and motor vehicle collisions result in greater damage to the vehicles and other property.
Citizen calls for service reporting concerns with E-Conveyances and near-misses with pedestrians have greatly increased. The number of children/juveniles using E-Conveyances for transportation is increasing rapidly. Over 60% of E-Conveyance traffic collisions that involve children/juveniles find the child/juvenile at fault.
In addition to concerns regarding E-Conveyances, the Murrieta Police Department has seen increased calls and incidents related to vehicles stopping in the middle of a roadway to pick up or drop off passengers, particularly in school areas. Neither the California Vehicle Code or the Murrieta Municipal Code currently prohibit this activity unless the vehicle obstructs traffic flow. However, the dangers from such activity are present even when there is no obstruction of traffic flow from vehicles traveling in other lanes.
Discussion
E-Conveyances
The proposed Ordinance No. 605-24 requires all E-Conveyances to meet certain minimum safety standards. For example, E-bikes must meet all bicycle safety requirements and have an automatic mechanism that disengages the motor. E-bikes modified to increase their speed above 28 miles per hour (MPH) may not be operated within the City. Additional safety requirements include:
1. A prohibition on using headphones or earbuds while operating an E-Conveyance;
2. The use of helmets for operators and passengers;
3. A requirement for lights and reflectors after sunset;
4. Passenger limits to manufacturer design;
5. A 28 MPH maximum speed limit on streets and a 20 MPH speed limit in bike lanes and trails;
6. Prohibition from riding within a park, playground, or school grounds unless posted explicitly as authorized; and
7. A prohibition from riding any E-Conveyance at any City Special Event.
Additionally, the proposed Ordinance requires the riders of E-Conveyances to comply with all the traffic laws, signs, and signals related to vehicles driving within the roadway, even when such E-Conveyances are operating within bike lanes or upon sidewalks.
The Ordinance may be enforced through the issuance of Administrative Citations or through criminal penalties. Furthermore, the Ordinance makes a parent and/or guardian responsible for violations committed by a minor under their care when the parent or guardian knowingly allows a violation of the Code.
Passenger Loading and Unloading
The proposed Ordinance also creates a new prohibition for vehicles stopping on a roadway to load or unload passengers. Currently, the law only allows for the enforcement of this activity when the stopped vehicle is obstructing traffic. However, the risks inherent in such activity are still present, even when traffic flow is not interrupted. The proposed Ordinance would allow drivers to be cited when stopping in the drive lanes of a roadway to either drop off or pick up passengers.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed code amendment has been evaluated pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) - Public Resources Code Sections 21000-21189 and the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 6, Chapter 3 Sections 15000-15387), and it has been determined that the amendments will have no significant adverse impacts on the environment. Furthermore, the amendment is exempt pursuant to the CEQA Guidelines, specifically Section 15060(c)(2), because the proposed ordinance will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment; and Section 15061(b)(3), because the ordinance is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Ordinance No. 605-24