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Lafayette police emphasize education, enforcement as e-bike complaints rise
Summary
Lafayette Police and city staff described the Slow Down Lafayette campaignand an education-first enforcement strategy targeting high-speed electric bicycles and illegal dirt-style e-bikes, with schools and parents urged to register and supervise riders.
Officer Andy Conley of the Lafayette Police Department told the Transportation and Circulation Commission on Sept. 15 that the city is taking an educational approach to e-bikes while reserving citations and impoundment for repeat or dangerous violations.
"So a red light runner is somebody who actually enters the intersection on a red," Conley said during a broader presentation on the Slow Down Lafayette traffic-safety campaign, explaining how officers determine certain violations at busy intersections.
Conley said the department has increased traffic enforcement this year and is focusing on school zones, notably Spring Hill and the Stanley Middle School area, where officers have been stationed during peak times. He told commissioners the department is handing out warnings and citations, and occasionally impounding non-street-legal electric dirt bikes: "We will also confiscate a bicycle or impound it... the impound fee is more than the value of the bike," Conley said.
Why it matters: commissioners and staff said the city has seen steady public concern about riders on sidewalks and in school zones. Lafayettestaff presented data showing overall collisions down roughly 12% year-over-year and property-damage-only collisions down about 14%, while traffic citations were about 25% higher year-to-date through August compared with the same period last year. City and police officials said those enforcement levels are part of the Slow Down Lafayette campaign's Vision Zero-style focus on reducing severe and fatal injuries.
What officials said: Conley reviewed e-bike classifications and legal limits. "The maximum power they can have from the motor is 750 watts," he said, and outlined state rules that distinguish class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes by power and assisted speed. He said class 1 and 2 assist up to 20 mph, while class 3 is allowed up to 28 mph and requires riders to be at least 16 for certain uses. Conley said heavier, throttle-only electric dirt bikes that lack pedals and can reach much higher speeds are not street legal and are treated as motorcycles when applicable.
Commission discussion and local steps: Chair Bart Carr noted the commission's recently reconstituted e-bike safety subcommittee will monitor Lafayette Police Department outreach and messaging and relay resident concerns to staff and police. "That's the reason we have the subcommittee to take a look at those problems and understand what the Lafayette Police Department is doing to respond," Carr said.
Commissioner Lynn Hedain asked whether the city can prohibit e-bikes at schools; Conley and Carr said schools have some local policies (Stanley Middle School requires e-bike registration and a dedicated parking area) but broader prohibitions would depend on state law and school policy.
Education first, enforcement escalates: Conley described a stepped approach: officers first educate riders and call parents for juveniles; if education fails, officers issue citations for traffic violations; the most dangerous devices and repeated refusal to comply can lead to impoundment. He said the department coordinates regionally with Danville and Walnut Creek on enforcement strategies and state legislative issues.
State-level changes and pilots: Conley summarized recent state actions affecting e-bikes, including age and equipment labeling efforts that began in January and proposals for class-label stickers on bikes. He described pilot programs in other counties testing minimum age requirements for certain e-bike classes.
Community guidance and next steps: Staff and police urged parents to supervise and train young riders, to confirm helmet use that meets state bicycle-helmet standards, and to register devices where schools offer that option. Commissioners asked for the police presentation slides and for more frequent safety-data updates; staff agreed to email the presentation and said they can provide collision and injury breakdowns by mode on a recurring basis.
Ending: Police and staff said the city will continue the Slow Down Lafayette outreach, prioritize school-zone enforcement when staffing allows and use the newly reconstituted subcommittee to relay community concerns and refine outreach.
