Yorba Linda council delays e-bike ordinance after debate over dirt-trail ban and enforcement

The Yorba Linda City Council on Tuesday continued consideration of a proposed ordinance regulating electric bicycles after a lengthy public-comment period and debate among council members, law-enforcement staff and trail users about whether to ban e-bikes from unpaved “earthen” trails and how the city could enforce any rule.

The issue matters because residents, members of the equestrian community and parents said faster, quieter electric bikes are creating safety risks on multiuse trails; law-enforcement officials warned that the department has limited ability to reliably catch violators on narrow, partly unpaved paths.

Council member Tara Campbell pressed for a simple rule: ban e-bikes from unpaved dirt trails. “Not allowing them on unpaved dirt trails. Period,” Campbell said in council chambers. Other council members and the city’s law-enforcement staff urged caution, saying the city needs enforceable, workable language and time to carry out education and enforcement.

Speakers at the meeting included riders and equestrians who described near-collisions and frightened horses on blind corners; Christina Beraldi of the equestrian community said the combination of horses, pedestrians and motorized e-bikes “is a recipe for disaster.” Eric Anderson, district commissioner for the United States Pony Club, described a prior incident in which a horse bolted after a fast group of riders passed, and urged stricter limits.

Police and enforcement staff told the council a ban would be legally possible but difficult to implement. “If the council chooses to add that restriction, I do not know how well we will be able to enforce it,” a Yorba Linda police captain said, noting that deputies have limited bicycles and that much of the city’s trail network consists of short paved segments adjacent to larger unpaved sections. Staff said actual paved trail segments outside El Cajon Trail are few and often short, which complicates on-the-ground determinations.

The proposed ordinance on the agenda included a set of behavior-focused, enforceable sections and penalties; council members also discussed a potential penalty progression mentioned during deliberations — fines that were described in the meeting as $250, $500 and up to $1,000 for repeated violations, with the possibility of criminal misdemeanor charges for a third offense — and a 10 mph speed limit cited for the paved portion of the El Cajon Trail. City staff and the police said education in schools and continued outreach to parents would be part of any rollout.

After discussion and substitute motions, the council voted to pull the item from the consent calendar and continue it to the next regular meeting so the full council can review and the police and parks staff can refine enforcement and mapping details. The motion to continue passed unanimously. The council asked staff to return with progress updates and to continue outreach to school districts and community groups ahead of the next council hearing.

The continuation leaves in place the ordinance language on the agenda for further modification at the next meeting; council members who opposed an immediate ban stressed they would revisit stronger restrictions if education and enforcement do not produce measurable safety improvements.