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Agoura Hills council backs ban on e-bikes on sidewalks and local parks, asks staff to draft ordinances
Summary
After a staff presentation and public comments about unsafe e-bike use, the Agoura Hills City Council directed staff to pursue a municipal code change (staff-preferred Option 3) that would prohibit riding e-bikes on city sidewalks and in local parks and return with enforcement, signage and education plans.
Agoura Hills City Council members agreed on a plan to restrict e-bikes from sidewalks and the city's neighborhood parks after residents described near-misses and repeated unsafe riding.
City staff, led by Amy Brink, director of community services, and Charmaine Yambao, director of public works and city engineer, outlined three policy paths: keep current law and emphasize education; amend the municipal code to define and penalize unsafe riding; or prohibit e-bikes on sidewalks and in parks. Traffic engineer Matt Stewart summarized state law and recent bills, including AB 875, which allows peace officers to confiscate modified or high-speed e-bikes used by people under 16, and noted differences among class 1, 2 and 3 e-bike definitions.
The presentation cited outreach with Los Virgenes Unified School District and the Lost Hills Sheriff Station and described neighboring cities approaches such as Westlake Village banning sidewalk use and Calabasas restrictions in parks. Staff recommended a package of steps to follow a prohibition: clearer signage, coordinated enforcement with the Lost Hills Sheriff Station, code-enforcement or contracted security in parks, and an education campaign including potential school-based safety courses.
Public speakers urged strong enforcement. Resident Ed Frank described groups of children riding at high speeds near Forest Grove Park and said, “These kids are not out there riding back and forth to school. Theyre causing trouble,” calling for rules with "teeth." Council members repeatedly cited safety concerns. Councilmember Anstead, who said, “I am an e biker,” argued for distinguishing responsible riders while restricting dangerous uses. Mayor Sylvester told staff, "Somebody is going to get killed if we don't do something," emphasizing urgency for enforcement and education.
Council members voiced support for the strictest local option presented by staff (Option 3) to prohibit riding class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes on city sidewalks and to ban e-bike riding in local parks while allowing people to push bikes through parks or use driveways/parking areas for access. Members said the ban would not preclude people from walking bikes across park areas or using trails where allowed.
Rather than adopting an ordinance this evening, council provided direction for staff to draft code language, estimate enforcement costs, plan outreach (signage and a public information campaign), coordinate with the Lost Hills Sheriff Station and return with an implementation plan. Staff indicated enforcement details (fines, when deputies are called, and the role of code enforcement or contract security in parks) remain to be worked out and will be part of the next report to council.
What happens next: Staff will draft potential municipal code amendments and an enforcement framework, analyze costs and staffing needs for signage and outreach, and return to council with proposed ordinance language and implementation options.
