Santa Cruz County introduces new ordinance to regulate e-bikes on sidewalks
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Santa Cruz County taking steps to make streets safer.
The board of supervisors approving an ordinance this week that would regulate where people can ride electric bikes.
Tis ordinance intended to protect people, it's also aimed at enhancing sustainability throughout the county.
Under the ordinance approved in a first reading on Tuesday, electric bicycles, mopeds, and other motorized vehicles may not be driven on sidewalks in unincorporated areas of the county to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
“By updating our county code to reflect the evolving landscape of transportation, we're taking proactive steps to ensure that all residents can safely enjoy our public spaces," Zach Friend Supervisor of Santa Cruz County said.
There are many riders who have witnessed incidents involving these e-bikes right here that make many concerned about their safety.
“Just now we almost got run over by two of them blowing pass us on the sidewalk on Pacific Avenue," Warren Angelo from Santa Cruz said.
“E-bikes, especially younger kids who don't have drivers licenses don’t understand traffic laws and they just go and rip throughout town hopping on the sidewalks being very reckless," Rio Wolfman from Santa Cruz said.
if the ordinance is adopted, e-bikes won't be allowed on county-owned sidewalks, unless they've been designated as bikeways, something many in the community support.
“Sometimes it can be a little bit scary cause I walk to work every day and sometimes just see them zooming by on the crosswalks and like on the sidewalks," Claudia Addison lives in Santa Cruz said.
“E-bikes aren’t a normal bicycle and they can go very fast so they are definitely pretty dangerous," Wolfman said.
Some people spoke say the ordinance should go even further.
“I think all bikes should be off sidewalks it’s for pedestrian, bikes are considered vehicle to be in the street and in the bike lane," Angelo said.
The ordinance is expected to return to the board for a second reading and final adoption on August 13th.
