State law could prevent e-bike ban in Half Moon Bay

Class 3 e-bikes were prohibited on recreational trails unless local jurisdictions specifically chose to permit them under AB 1096. AB 1909 removed this specific language, making legal permissions for class 3 e-bikes murkier.

“It took out language that had previously allowed jurisdictions to prohibit class 1-3 e-bikes on bicycle-serving trails and paths,” Nichols said of AB 1909, which still currently allows local jurisdictions control over e-bikes on hiking and recreational trails. “Because of AB 1909 and its implications, staff has had to reevaluate and think of new ways to create a safe and welcoming coastal trail.”

Current staff recommendations for Coastal Trail e-bike safety include speed limits; share the trail signs; and tabling and education efforts for residents.

Class 1 bikes provide assistance up to 20 mph and are pedal assist only, meaning the motor kicks in as you pedal the bike. Class 2 bikes have the same top speed but are also equipped with a throttle, meaning you are not required to pedal. Class 3 bikes provide assistance up to 28 mph and are pedal assist only.

Councilmember Debbie Ruddock said that after hearing from the city’s attorneys and looking at the legal text of the bill, she agrees that the council most likely does not have jurisdiction to prohibit class 1 and 2 e-bikes on the trail, although there’s flexibility around class 3.

“I’d like to see us become more of a bike-friendly community,” she said. “I think the horse is out of the barn.”

Mayor Deborah Penrose said that while she has no interest in seeing e-bikes on the Coastal Trail, it doesn’t seem as though the city could prohibit them without challenging the state, which they don’t have enough money to do.

“We’re stuck, I’m stuck,” she said. “It’s not just public safety, it’s the ability of somebody like myself to be able to walk next to the ocean without having to guard myself against what’s happening behind me, what could possibly hurt me, or kill me, or maim me.”

Ruddock emphasized that many residents already utilize e-bikes in Half Moon Bay, and said the council should instead focus on education, safety and harm prevention; and the positives of lowering carbon emissions through bicycle transportation.

Ruddock also voiced a suggestion discussed throughout the meeting — having both paved and unpaved trails to alleviate safety concerns and make the Coastal Trail ADA standard.

Councilmember Robert Brownstone said that the concept of a bike-friendly community requires more sophisticated bike lanes set up for commuting, but he doesn’t believe the Coastal Trail has the capacity for that.

“The city of Paris banned e-bikes after years of having them due to all the accidents, so yeah, it can be put back in the box,” he said. “I think we should at least make it mandatory to have a bell on your bike.”

Vice Mayor Joaquin Jimenez expressed concerns about going beyond education and being able to enforce e-bike speed limits.

“Education alone is difficult,” Jimenez said. “I’ve seen it happen, where somebody is riding a street bike pretty fast and they get upset when a person who is walking takes too long to get out of the way.”

He said he would be in favor of a pilot program to see if people would adhere to a 15 mph speed limit.

“I don’t want to say yes, but I don’t want to say no … but maybe we can actually give this a try,” he said. “I would love to see some citations [for] riding your bicycle too fast, even if it’s not an e-bike.”

Half Moon Bay residents both for and against permitting e-bikes on the Coastal Trail also came to the meeting to voice concerns, with former mayor Mike Ferreira echoing apprehension for enforcement feasibility.

“If there are speed limits, there needs to be some consideration of how they will be enforced,” he said. “There has always been a conflict between bikes and pedestrians, and growing popularity of e-bikes exacerbates this.”

Drafting an ordinance around education, enforcement and potential speed limits will continue with input from the Parks and Recreation Commission.