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Home My WebLink AboutSS4 - Electric Bicycles - PowerPointAugust 23, 2022 Item No. SS4 Electric Bicycle Discussion August 23, 2020 City Council Study Session State Bicycle Regulations Electric Bicycle Definition • Unique device — Not a "Motorized Vehicle" • Must have pedals • Similar rights as traditional bicycles • Maximum 750 Watt (1 Horsepower) motor 3 Classifications of Electric Bicycles • Bicycle Label Requirements Helmets required • Under 18 years old (all cyclists) • All Class 3 electric bicycle cyclists Single passenger unless bike designed for more 0 Prohibits riding while under the influence of alcohol/drugs California E-bicycle Classifications Assembly Bill 3.o96 (2oi5) Class is Low -speed pedal -assisted electric bicycle • Power assist up to zo miles per hour ➢ May be restricted/prohibited by Local Agency Class 2: Low -speed throttle -assisted electric bicycle • Powered drive up to zo miles per hour ➢ May be restricted/prohibited by Local Agency Class 3: Speed pedal -assisted electric bicycle • Power assisted while user pedals • Power assist up to 28 miles per hour ➢ Prohibited from sidewalks, paths and trails ➢ Must be 16 or older to operate ➢ All users required to wear helmets City Bicycle Regulations City Sidewalk Cycling Ordinance/Resolution • Prohibits Cycling on sidewalks (with exceptions) Oceanfront Boardwalk Safety Program • "Rules of the Road" • 8mph Speed Limit • No Unsafe Operation • Recently updated to include "all users" Voluntary Resident Bicycle License Program • Used for theft recovery Traffic Division Overview • 1 Lieutenant • 2 Sergeants • 1 Traffic Investigator • 3 Hybrid — Traffic Investigators / Motor Officers • Investigation of Fatal / Serious collisions & Hit -Run collisions • Drug Recognition Expert / Street Racing / E-Bikes • 7 Motor officers • Traffic Enforcement • School safety & traffic enforcement • Investigation of traffic collisions • Boardwalk Ambassadors • Two 2-person teams • Deployed 9am — 5 Pm Reported City-wide Bike Collisions 2021 a 'b1�• irk Yiy""�-_ NEV✓POPT COFST Masym_ Ocean Club Reported City-wide Bike Collisions Year to Date (2022) lY,ry S M c rVine lry t 7 �3' ♦ ri �. Y F 1 ,Clime u 1� Yy YTD Bike Collisions *all bicycles - as of August loth 75 75 69 65 58 59 51 46 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Oceanfront Boardwalk 2021 • 11 reported collisions on the boardwalk (7 involving e-bikes) 2022 YTD • 4 reported collisions on the boardwalk (1 involving an a -bike) Boardwalk Ambassadors (February 2021) • Quarter 1— 2022 (January — March) • 632 contacts for "speeding" bikes • 400 e-bicycles / 232 manual • Quarter 2 — 2022 (April —June) • 1,144 contacts for "speeding" bikes • 727 e-bicycles /417 manual Education —What have we done.? 2021/2022 School Year - Presented to: • 1,100+ Ensign MS students and staff • 350+ Mariners ES students and staff • 300+ Community members at Neighborhood Watch / school events Ongoing efforts: • Community events around the city (Speak up Newport) • Continuous student outreach • Social Media videos / posts Enforcement —What have we done? • May 7th and 15th - Bicycle/Pedestrian safety month • Office of Traffic Safety grant operations • E — Bicycle Traffic Safety Operation (July 9,2022) Traffic Division and Peninsula Enforcement Team (PET) • Area of Focus — Peninsula — including oceanfront boardwalk • 198 Boardwalk users were contacted • 82 of the contacts were juveniles • 60 Citations or warnings were issued • 55 of them to bike riders • 12 of them to juveniles • Jan 1 to Aug 10, 2022 — 3,202 citations by motors Education and Enforcement Moving Forward • Today — Officers presenting to Ensign Middle School during PE period, reaching approximately 1,000 students and staff • Safety Stickers • Plans to conduct several town hall style meetings at the schools to parents, children and community members • Additional E-Bicycle Traffic Safety Operations — Enforcement Focused Action Taken by Other Agencies San Clemente • Developed Education/Outreach Program • Performed School Education/Engagement (School District/OC Sheriff) • Safety Sticker Program • Prohibited e-bicycle on beach -front trail (2022) Carlsbad • Prohibits ALL bicycles on Sidewalks and Public Facilities (2022) • Added "Regulated Mobility Devices" definition • Added "rules of the road" regulations to promote safety • Implementing Ticket Diversion/Education Program Action Taken by Other Agencies San Diego • Prohibits "Motorized Transportation Devices" including e-bicycles on beach/bay trails Huntington Beach • Focused bicycle speed enforcement on beach front trail • Operate a Ticket Diversion Program Orange County Transportation Authority • Planned Regional Agency Working Group 141 Regulatory Limitations California Vehicle Code expressly preempts all local regulations except where expressly authorized (§zi(a)) City has the option to: • Restrict Class 1/2 e-bicycles from certain paths/trails • Allow Class 3 e-bicycles on certain paths/trails • Establish a bicycle licensing program • Restrict operation of unlicensed bicycles within Public R/W • Limited to Newport Beach Residents Potential Actions i. Update City Cycling Safety Website • Include e-bicycle Regulations/Guidance 2. Continue Police Department education campaign 3. Team with Community/School District/Local Agencies for Youth Educational Program • Consider Community/School District partnership opportunities • Support school education and Safety Sticker programs y Potential Actions 4. Update City Sidewalk Cycling Ordinance/Resolution • Add "rules of the road" regulations 5. ConsiderTicket Diversion Program • Provide educational option to satisfy violation 6. Advocate State to impose minimum age and/or education requirements for e-bicycle operation y M,11 , LAN � c Additional Items Considered Speed limiting/geofencing technology Limited by technology/Easily modified ➢ Not able to address at Local level/enforce private devices Licensing E-bicycles ➢ Would apply to electric and traditional bicycles ➢ Only applicable to Newport Beach residents ➢ Proposed State Legislation will prohibit required license programs Prohibit Class i/z E-bicycles use on Oceanfront/trails/sidewalks ➢ Heavy enforcement requirement ➢ Limits mobility options/shifts use to roadways ➢ Observed low compliance in other jurisdictions ➢ No Community consensus Lieutenant Eric Little Police Department Elittle@nbpd.org Brad Sommers, P.E. Public Works Department Bsommers@newportbeachca.gov Joseph Meeks City Attorney's Office J mee ks@ newportbeachca.gov