Burlingame to ban electric bike riding in parks

Still, some e-bike riders voiced concerns and frustrations that they would be prohibited from park areas and questioned the effectiveness of the new ban. 

“I’d like to know about the planned enforcement … if this ordinance is adopted. Does it make sense for officers to stop people in parks to inspect their bikes if they are not endangering anyone?” said San Bruno resident Allie Paul, who commutes through Burlingame every day. “There is no standardized look for electric versus nonelectric bikes. It would make more sense for officers to stop anyone riding at excessive speed.” 

But Burlingame Police Chief Mike Matteucci said a ban would be much less challenging for officers to enforce than regulating bike speed. Tools used to enforce vehicle speed would be far less effective on micromobility devices, he said. 

“If you ban a device, it’s easier to enforce,” he said. “Speed can be difficult because usually when we enforce speed on vehicles we use a radar gun or we pace.” 

The city is creating and enforcing legislation primarily to deal with a specific population riding e-bikes at unsafe speeds, Parks and Recreation Director Margaret Glomstad said. She emphasized that the Police Department wouldn’t be unduly targeting riders not causing issues. 

“What we’re experiencing in the parks is not commuters taking out dogs and kids. There’s a certain population, they tend to be young, it tends to be after school,” she said. “We’re not looking at the adult who rides their bike through at 7 a.m., because we’re not there anyway.” 

Creating public policy often means you aren’t able to please everyone, Councilmember Michael Brownrigg said. Asking e-bike and micromobility device riders to walk through the park, rather than riding, shouldn’t be the end of the world, he emphasized.  

“If you can’t walk from one end of Washington Park to the other, you should think about what you’re doing with your life, because it’s not that far,” he said. 

Burlingame residents have spoken out about the issue and want their parks to remain safe for children and families, Mayor Donna Colson said, noting that many of those who spoke out don’t live in the city. 

“Many of our own residents had a very specific opinion about this. While I appreciate someone who lives 15 miles away talking about this, I think I do have to give a little bit of heavier weight to people who are living, working and experiencing the parks,” she said. 

The council was in consensus on the ordinance, and it will be brought back at the next City Council meeting for second reading and passage. Several councilmembers also expressed a desire to address other e-bike safety issues, like dangers on surface streets, at a future time.