GALT — The Galt Police Department towed its first electric bicycle over the weekend after months of educating the public about laws and regulations related to the vehicles.
“We didn’t rush into this,” the department said in a social media post. “For over six months, we’ve been in schools and online explaining the rules around e-bikes and e-motorcycles. Here’s the bottom line: if it operates like a motorcycle, the law treats it like one. That means a license, registration, and proper equipment are required. Riders must also follow all traffic laws. If you choose to ignore that, expect a citation and your bike to be towed for at least 48 hours.”
The Galt City Council adopted an urgency ordinance in October regulating the use of bicycles, electric bicycles, motorized scooters and electrically motorized boards after several community members raised concerns.
Residents, school staff and even elected officials reported several instances of children not wearing helmets when riding, reckless speeds, multiple passengers on the vehicle or devices, not paying attention while riding, and the location where the vehicles or devices were being operated.
Youngsters in Galt are now violating the city’s municipal code if they are intentionally swerving or riding around stopped or slowed traffic at an excessive speed or in a way that obstructs motorists; carrying more passengers than what the bicycle, scooter or board can carry; or doing wheelies in a public right-of-way. Not obeying posted signs or signals, riding without a helmet, failing to yield to pedestrians or riding against traffic are also violations, among others.
Under the ordinance, officers first issue warnings to children and contact their parents if they are found to be in violation.
A second warning will be issued before citations are given. A first citation would result in a $100 fine, and a second within a year would be $200, with subsequent violations adding up to as much as $500.
Galt’s municipal code also gives officers the discretion to place a minor into a diversion program to walk them through the safety education process and correct their behavior, rather than making parents responsible for a fine.
Galt police told CBS13 that officers will cite riders and tow bikes that don’t fall under the standard three classes of electric bikes, which can either be pedaled or use throttles.
According to California law, a “class 1 electric bicycle,” or “low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and is not capable of exclusively propelling it and ceases to provide assistance when it reaches 20 miles per hour. The motor is also not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than 20 miles per hour on a class 1 bicycle.
A “class 2 electric bicycle,” or “low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle,” is equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when it reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
A “class 3 electric bicycle,” or “speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle,” is equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, is not capable of exclusively propelling it, and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour. The bicycle is also equipped with a speedometer.
“We certainly do receive complaints,” Galt Cpl. Greg Steele told CBS 13. “Not about people riding e-bikes, but about people riding e-bikes in unsafe, illegal and dangerous ways, disobeying traffic laws, running red lights, stop signs, cutting through traffic.”
