SDPD plans to engage with e-bike riders before focusing on enforcement

PACIFIC BEACH – Officers from the San Diego Police Department’s Northern Division filled residents in on how they plan to address illegal use of e-bikes by youths at the Pacific Beach Town Council in October.

SDPD community relations officer Jessica Dishman introduced the Community Oriented Policing Squad team, consisting of officers Zane Peterson, Kurtis Vaughn and Dustin Welsh.

Welsh said the COPS team will be periodically working the beachfront, including the boardwalk, to engage with e-bike riders, initially emphasizing education before enforcement.

“Anything that’s powered by an electrical device we’re going to be stopping, documenting,” he said. “That way, next summer it will not be as big a problem. We can cut it off now.”

Welsh noted that SDPD is also going to be posting new signage all the way down the boardwalk and along the bays so people “can’t say we didn’t know.” He added that there is presently only one sign stating no electronic bikes are allowed, located at the foot of Grand Avenue.

E-bikes have been banned on the city’s beach boardwalks.

Also, Class 3 pedal-assisted e-bikes — which can reach speeds up to 28 mph — are illegal for youngsters to ride because of their speed and power. In California, Class 3 e-bike riders must be at least 16 years old.

Additionally, all riders must wear a helmet, regardless of age, and are subject to the same traffic laws as other vehicles. 

Residents, though, were concerned about more than riding on the boardwalk. In reply to an audience member’s comment that youthful e-bike riders are more problematic on streets, Welsh replied, “We’ve started e-bike enforcement in La Jolla near schools that are no longer allowing those bikes on campus.”

Dishman pointed out that the COPS team is stretched thin, having only three officers to patrol the entire area. SDPD Northern Division serves Bay Ho, Bay Park, Clairemont Mesa East and West, La Jolla, Mission Bay Park, Mission Beach, North Clairemont, Pacific Beach, Torrey Pines and University City.

“One day [the COPS team] will focus on La Jolla, another in Mission or Pacific beaches, and everything in-between,” she said.

Dishman added that schools and parents are being enlisted to help curb illegal e-bike use.

“[Legislators are] looking into implementing some type of safety course in school that needs to take place that a parent has to sign off on,” Dishman said. “Maybe SDPD can get involved to inspect the e-bikes to make sure they’re legal because a lot of these e-bikes are modified. We want to make sure they stay within regulation.”

Asked if e-bikes that are found to be illegal, or located in spots where they’re not allowed, can be impounded, Welsh said, “They can get impounded, just like a car.”

“A lot of e-bike education is trying to educate the parents because students are just telling them, ‘My friends have one and I want one,'” Dishman added. “And parents are buying them. We’re also trying to educate parents that they’re responsible (and) can even receive a citation for this.”