Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bicycle Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Riverbank police warn of rising ebike and 'emoto' incidents as council weighs local ordinance
Summary
Riverbank deputies reported 87–88 recent incidents involving bicycles, ebikes and illegal high‑powered 'emotos,' including crashes and vandalism, and urged education plus a possible local ordinance; councilmembers requested more data and signaled support for a workshop on options.
Riverbank — Deputy Matthew Orur told the City Council Tuesday that Riverbank Police Services has responded to roughly 87–88 incidents this season involving bicycles, electric‑assist bikes and so‑called 'emotos,' many of them stunt riding, wrong‑way riding or behavior that created traffic hazards.
"We responded to 87 incidents — if we can make that 88 — a lot of calls for service for that time frame," Deputy Orur said, and described examples including a 15‑year‑old knocked unconscious in a crash and instances of groups damaging parked cars. He emphasized preventive work with schools and public outreach and said the department is sharing flyers on ebike classifications and helmet laws.
The presentation reviewed California vehicle‑code distinctions for class 1–3 ebikes and said high‑powered 'emotos' without VINs or registration are unlawful to operate on public streets. Orur recommended calling 911 for hazards, collecting dash‑cam evidence and urged parents to be involved. "If we have the ability to get there, we will get there as soon as we can," he said.
Councilmembers and the public asked for additional local data and spelled‑out policy options used by neighboring cities, such as targeted ordinances that allow impoundment when groups create hazards. Several councilmembers signaled interest in an ordinance that balances education and consequences; one member asked staff to return with a workshop and comparisons of other cities' experiences.
Public commenters said they support action. Resident Michael Christie asked the council to budget for a dedicated deputy to support enforcement; Deputy Orur and Sergeant David said enforcement and education both matter but constrained staffing and priority response affect how quickly police can reach incidents.
Next steps: Deputy Orur said Riverbank Police will continue school outreach and community education efforts, and the council asked staff to prepare more detailed incident breakdowns (resident vs. non‑resident, outcomes, time and location) and to schedule a workshop on ordinance options before any draft code move is placed on a future council agenda.
