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Police report shows rise in e‑bike collisions; city cites enforcement and education steps
Summary
Huntington Beach police told the council there were 146 e‑bike collisions reported in 2024, 56% of all bicycle collisions; the city has adopted a new municipal code, produced a safety video, expanded school programs and increased enforcement including impoundments.
City staff and police told the Huntington Beach City Council they are expanding enforcement, education and engineering work in response to an increase in electric‑bicycle crashes.
The Huntington Beach Police Department reported 146 e‑bike collisions in 2024 and said e‑bikes accounted for about 56% of reported bicycle collisions. Officers said they had issued roughly 70 citations to e‑bike riders in 2024, impounded 15 high‑powered e‑motorcycles on 30‑day holds, and increased targeted enforcement at known ride‑out locations.
Why it matters: City officials said the rise in e‑bike collisions presents public‑safety and traffic concerns. The city is using a mix of enforcement, public education and collaboration with schools and private partners to reduce collisions and address illegal e‑motorcycles.
Police described the city’s multi‑pronged response. Staff said the city completed a safety video distributed to bike‑leasing companies and made it available on the city website; the council adopted a new municipal code regulating e‑bikes; public works has integrated bicycle improvements into the master mobility plan; and city schools participate in an e‑bike safety program that links classroom instruction to school parking privileges.
Crash patterns: Police reported the primary collision factors were riding the wrong way against traffic, unsafe speed and unsafe turning movements. Age groups frequently involved in collisions were concentrated among riders around age 18 and a separate peak near age 50; the city’s fire department reported a significant percentage of medical transports for e‑bike incidents required advanced life support.
Enforcement examples: Staff described recent targeted operations at locations including Seacliff Shopping Center and said the department used helicopters and coordinated units to disrupt illegal ride outs and apprehend operators; one juvenile was booked on felony evading charges after a pursuit and the involved vehicle was impounded for 30 days, staff said.
Outreach and funding: The department said it has a bicycle and pedestrian safety grant from the Office of Traffic Safety that funds bike‑rodeos and school outreach, and that educational flyers were included with water bills and school communications.
Ending: Police said they will continue targeted enforcement, outreach and engineering changes and offered to return with more detailed breakdowns of collision circumstances and enforcement outcomes if the council requests them.
