Santa Ana adopts strict e-bike rules after spate of fatalities and injuries
The Santa Ana City Council unanimously approved an ordinance that bans e-bike riding on playgrounds, sets speed limits and allows police to cite or impound bikes, responding to five recent e-bike deaths.
Santa Ana City Council members voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance targeting reckless electric-bicycle use after five e-bike fatalities were recorded in the city within three years. The measure bans riding on playgrounds, restricts speeds to 5 mph near schools or pedestrians and 10 mph on sidewalks, and prohibits wheelies, jumps and carrying extra passengers. It also authorizes police to temporarily confiscate a minor’s bike if parents are absent and to impound Class 3 e-bikes from riders under 16 for up to 48 hours, with repeat violations punishable by fines up to $250.
Police Sergeant Travis Johnson emphasized that the goal is to promote safe riding without discouraging the affordable transport option. The ordinance follows broader county efforts, including the OC District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s child-endangerment prosecutions of parents and a recent e-bike buy-back at Angel Stadium, as well as Anaheim’s plan to roll out a 16-hour officer training course on e-bike laws.
Why it matters
The new rules aim to curb a rising tide of e-bike accidents and hold riders and parents accountable for safety.
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