Walnut Creek advances e-bike safety outreach and enforcement steps; council asks for follow-ups

Walnut Creek staff presented an e-bike safety action plan on Oct. 21 that combines public education, targeted enforcement, infrastructure investment and regional partnerships to address rising e-bike use and related injuries.

Assistant City Manager Charles Ching and Police Captain Slater described an approach centered on five pillars: a public education campaign (website pages, videos and social media), safety checks and enforcement, monitoring statewide legislation, continued investment in bike infrastructure, and community partnerships. Ching summarized vehicle-class distinctions, said class 1 and class 2 e-bikes are pedal-assist and limited to about 20 mph, and said class 3 e-bikes can reach about 28 mph and carry a minimum age of 16 for operation.

Ching reported the city launched an e-bike web page and that the new page had 575 unique views since it went live; staff reported 244,000 "touch points" via email and social media outreach. He also outlined planned capital investments in bike facilities (roughly $7,670,000 in projects in the coming years) and said the Walnut Creek Police Department and partners have undertaken enforcement sweeps that led to citations and impoundments of motorized two-wheel vehicles not classified as e-bikes.

Captain Slater said police are prioritizing education and safe behavior, will send an officer to a POST-certified e-bike instructor course, and that the department will target reckless behavior (street racing, popping wheelies, riding in packs or fleeing officers) rather than routine legal use. Slater said the department has used drones and other technologies to assist investigations when riders flee.

Council members emphasized outreach to parents and schools, and several asked staff to return with follow-up reports after training and more school-based outreach. Council member comments reflected concern about injuries among teenagers and support for a public-education-first approach coupled with targeted enforcement. A member of the public urged registration and licensing for juvenile riders; staff said they will track relevant state legislation and consider local options within legal authority.

Staff also clarified local rules for Walnut Creek trails and open-space: class 1 and class 2 e-bikes are allowed on trails where regular bicycles are allowed (double-track trails and some single-track trails unless signage prohibits them); class 3 e-bikes, e-scooters and e-dirt bikes are not allowed in open space.

The council did not record a formal roll-call vote on adoption of the plan but gave direction to staff to continue outreach, coordinate with schools and regional partners, and report back after officer training and additional community outreach.