Santa Barbara Council adopts new e‑bike ordinance, establishes youth diversion program

The Santa Barbara City Council voted to adopt changes to Municipal Code chapter 10.52 on Feb. 25 that update local rules for bicycles and electronic conveyances, add administrative enforcement options and fines, and create a youth diversion alternative to fines.

Council members said they took the stepped approach to balance public-safety concerns on State Street and other pedestrian areas with education and alternatives for juveniles. Mayor Randy Rouse and council members approved the ordinance in a 7–0 vote after amendments that narrow a sidewalk exception and reduce proposed administrative fines.

Why it matters: City staff and police told the council e‑bikes are involved in an increasing share of collisions and risky behavior downtown. The police department cited collision-report data it began capturing in 2022 after the CHP updated reporting forms; in 2024 officers recorded 107 e‑bike collisions and listed the e‑bicyclist as the primary at‑fault party in 69 of those reports. Council members said they want tools that let officers stop unsafe riding, educate riders and, when necessary, issue administrative citations rather than relying only on traffic court.

What the ordinance does: The ordinance (amending Chapter 10.52) does several things: it (1) updates definitions to reflect class 1/2/3 e‑bikes and other “e‑conveyances,” (2) clarifies that ‘‘pocket bikes’’ and motorized off‑road minibikes are illegal on public rights of way and may be impounded, (3) defines “unsafe operation” and prohibits stunts or tricks near pedestrians, (4) makes riding on sidewalks generally not allowed (the council removed one previously permissive exception), (5) creates administrative fines with an escalating schedule instead of automatically sending all cases to traffic court, and (6) creates a juvenile…