Agoura Hills council introduces new rules for electric mobility devices, including sidewalk bans and fines

Agoura Hills — The City Council on April 8 introduced an ordinance to regulate electric mobility devices in city-owned public places, citing growing safety concerns for pedestrians and younger riders.

“Tonight, we are proposing ordinance number 26485, which addresses the use and regulation of electric bicycles within our city,” Charmaine Yamba, director of public works and city engineer, told the council as she opened the presentation.

The draft ordinance (26-485) would add a new chapter to the municipal code defining electric mobility devices consistent with the California Vehicle Code and prohibiting their operation on public sidewalks, in parks, on athletic fields, in equestrian and hiking trails, and other city-owned facilities where bicycles or motor vehicles are prohibited. The chapter would also authorize law enforcement, during lawful stops, to inspect devices to determine whether an operator is legally allowed to operate it.

Enforcement proposed in the draft escalates by repetition: first and second violations in a one-year period would be infractions with fines of $100 and $200 respectively; a third or subsequent violation within one year would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 (the staff-drafted version removes jail from the penalty structure while retaining misdemeanor classification). The city prosecutor would have discretion, at any enforcement level, to allow a violator — and, if a minor, the parent or guardian — to complete a safety-education program at the violator’s expense in lieu of paying the fine. Staff cited two education options: an online course (Electric Bike Academy) at about $50 per person and an in-person workshop model (local nonprofit) that could cost roughly $40 per participant when run at scale.

Amy Brink, director of community services, said staff coordinated the proposal with the Lost Hills Sheriff Station and the school district and emphasized that education will be a major part of outreach. Council members pressed staff on implementation details: how inspections would protect ADA compliance and what constitutes a lawful inspection (staff said inspections would focus on visible device equipment, not personal searches), timelines for completion of education, and whether prosecutor discretion might undercut deterrence.

Council members repeatedly framed the ordinance as an effort to change youth behavior and clarify where ebikes may be ridden. Council member Anstead, who chaired the community services subcommittee that reviewed the proposal, said the ordinance aims to move riders from sidewalks and parks into bike lanes and to pair enforcement with education. “We need to move forward,” Anstead said during deliberations.

The council voted 5–0 to waive full reading and introduce ordinance 26-485. Council members asked staff to track metrics on violations and education participation so the ordinance can be adjusted if the measure proves insufficient.

Next steps: The ordinance was introduced for consideration; if adopted later, the measure would take effect 30 days after final adoption per the draft language. Staff and the prosecutor’s office will need to finalize administrative processes for citations, education completion tracking, and timelines for compliance.