Council forms ad‑hoc e‑conveyance committee to tackle e‑bike safety and outreach

The Carpinteria City Council adopted a resolution on April 14 establishing an ad‑hoc "e‑conveyance" committee to work on safety, outreach and enforcement recommendations related to e‑bikes, other personal electric conveyances, drivers and pedestrians. Staff said the committee responds to a stakeholder meeting with the school district, the sheriff’s office, California State Parks and local groups that recommended a structured, collaborative approach to safety.

Staff described possible committee tasks that could include public education campaigns, coordination on enforcement strategies, school‑based outreach, and evaluation of program effectiveness. The ad‑hoc committee was presented as an advisory body that would work with city staff to craft recommendations for council consideration; staff emphasized that the committee is intended to be temporary and focused on developing actionable programs.

Why it matters: The city has experienced collisions involving e‑bikes and bicycles; city, schools and law enforcement leaders cited concerns about rider behavior, helmet use, traffic law compliance and conflicts with motorists and pedestrians. The committee is intended to coordinate a mix of education, enforcement and engineering ideas tailored to Carpinteria’s neighborhoods and routes.

Council action: The council adopted the resolution forming the ad‑hoc committee and authorized up to two council members to serve. Two council members verbally expressed interest during the meeting; the council voted to form the committee. The staff report said outside stakeholders will be invited to participate in working sessions, but the official committee membership will be council members to avoid Brown Act constraints for a multi‑member advisory group.

Next steps: Staff will schedule the advisory meetings, invite stakeholders and return to council with committee recommendations and any staffing or budget implications before implementation.