La Verne City Council voted Monday to have City staff draft a local e-bike ordinance for review in early 2026. The move doesn’t create new rules yet, but it starts the process of deciding whether the City should set clearer guidelines for how electric bicycles and other powered mobility devices can be used.

Police Chief Sam Gonzalez said the department has seen more e-bikes around town and launched a safety campaign over the summer, including flyers and a video posted to Facebook that has drawn more than 10,000 views. Officers have documented 34 bicycle-related collisions since 2023, 10 of them involving e-bikes.

Sgt. Carlos Flores said state law defines basic e-bike classifications but leaves several everyday questions to local jurisdictions — such as sidewalk use, trail access, nighttime visibility requirements, and how to address modified high-powered devices. Flores outlined five policy areas staff believe a La Verne ordinance should address. Read more about the proposed policies in our Q&A What’s Behind La Verne’s Discussion on E-Bike Regulations. Several Southern California cities, including Carlsbad, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach, have already adopted similar ordinances.

Residents who spoke during public comment largely backed tighter regulations, describing close calls and concerns about unsafe riding. Several said they fear a serious crash is imminent and expressed concern about children, seniors and themselves getting hurt.

But not all speakers supported sweeping restrictions. La Verne resident Chantal Stieber urged the City to consider how certain rules might unintentionally affect everyday riders. She said that “even something that sounds reasonable, like sidewalk bans, has the potential to present problems,” especially near the schools where bike routes cross pedestrian areas, as well as for families who rely on bikes for transportation. Stieber also noted that high-powered electric motorcycles often cited in complaints are already illegal under state law.

“I don’t think that the safety of our citizens, whether they’re on the e-bikes or walking, should be jeopardized because we decided not to do something,” Council member Wendy Lau said, voicing support for moving ahead with a draft ordinance.

Council asked City staff to re-share the educational materials they distributed over the summer and submit an ordinance for a first reading in early 2026. Residents will have another opportunity to weigh in at that time. You can also share your feedback and suggestions via email to cityclerk@laverneca.gov.

Resources and more information

🔗 City Council Agenda Report: Direction for Developing a Local Electric Bicycle Ordinance (PDF, see page 48)
🔗 California Bicycle Laws
🔗 Senate Bill 1271 (Jan. 1, 2025)
🔗 California AB 965 (July 28, 2025)
🔗 California AB 544 (July 14, 2025)

Have thoughts on e-bikes in La Verne? 🚲⚡

La Verne Daily News wants to hear from riders, parents, pedestrians, business owners and anyone who shares our streets and trails. If you’d like to talk about e-bikes, potential regulations, bike safety or bicycling in and around La Verne, reply to this email or contact Staci at staci@lavernedaily.org with “E-Bikes” in the subject line.

Your experiences and ideas can help shape our continued coverage and community conversations on this topic.