San Marcos adopts under-12 e-bike ban, funds 'Ride Right' safety campaign

San Marcos City Council on Oct. 28 adopted resolutions to implement a San Diego County pilot program allowing cities to prohibit children under 12 from operating class 1 and class 2 electric bicycles. Council also approved a one-time, fiscal-year 2025-26 appropriation to launch a public education and enforcement campaign branded "Ride Right," and introduced an ordinance to codify the prohibition in the municipal code.

Legislative analyst Michael Lieberman told the council the pilot (AB 22 34) permits participating San Diego County jurisdictions to prohibit operation of class 1 (pedal-assist) and class 2 (throttle) e-bikes by persons under 12 and requires a 30-day public information campaign followed by a 60-day period of warnings before citation enforcement. The pilot runs through 2029 to allow data collection to inform any future statewide action.

Staff proposed a multi-pronged education effort, including school-site pop-up events for middle and high schools to provide helmet checks and safety materials, "family university" training sessions to include parents, and partnerships with the San Diego-area bicycle coalition for hands-on city-riding classes. Staff estimated a one-time appropriation of about $77,000 to fund overtime for additional sheriff patrol hours, campaign materials, training partnerships and pop-up events.

Councilmember LeBlanc, who requested the agenda item, said she introduced the measure out of concern for children's safety. "I am beyond excited to bring this as my first agenda item," she said, citing immature judgment and risky riding behaviors among preteens. Public commenters, including community advocates and a resident who lives on a busy corner, supported the prohibition and urged required helmet use, reflective gear and front/rear lighting for after-dark riding.

Enforcement mechanics: Staff and the city attorney said the pilot contemplates administrative citations rather than court prosecution. The ordinance and resolution set a $25 citation for violators after the informational and warning periods; the law provides that a parent or guardian who delivers proof that the cited person completed an approved e-bike safety and training program within 120 days may avoid the fee. Staff noted parental liability language and discussed how deputies and school staff would coordinate to implement the program and outreach.

Council action: The council adopted Resolution 2025-95-08 (prohibiting operation of class 1 and 2 e-bikes by persons under 12) and Resolution 2025-95-09 (authorizing the FY25-26 appropriation), and introduced Ordinance 2025-15-67 to codify the prohibition in Municipal Code Chapter 12.25. All motions passed unanimously.

Next steps and implementation: Staff will begin the required public-information campaign and coordinate with the San Marcos Unified School District and the Sheriff's Department on pop-up events and trainings. A 60-day warning period would follow the 30-day information campaign; after that, citations may be issued. The city said it will track data required by the statute and review outcomes during the pilot period.