The stories out of Petaluma about e-bikes and e-motorcycles reflect a growing concern among locals about their safety, both for the riders and for the people around them.
In one recent incident, on Feb. 14 at the Petaluma Target shopping center, officers attempted to contact a juvenile rider on an e-motorcycle who fled on the vehicle, according to police. The rider was later stopped on Stuart Drive and cited for evading an officer, driving without a license, failure to provide proof of insurance, and not wearing a helmet before being released to his mother, police said.
Petaluma police traffic Sgt. Mario Giomi told the Argus-Courier that since the beginning of the year there has been one e-motorcycle collision involving a juvenile rider and passenger — one of them was taken to the hospital with injuries — and two injury collisions involving e-bikes, one with an adult rider and the other also with a juvenile rider and passenger.
Giomi said that while the city does not have a specific policy related to e-bike and e-motorcycle enforcement, the department has this year issued three citations to responsible adults on behalf of juveniles who were illegally operating e-motorcycles or e-bikes. Such citations are classified as a misdemeanor violation and do not always involve a fine, he said.
“A form was generated for when juveniles are contacted on illegally modified e-bikes (exceeds 20 mph or under 16 on a class 3 e-bike) or e-motorcycles,” Giomi said. “The form serves as an advisement to parents regarding the consequences for knowingly allowing a child to ride a vehicle out of class.”
Subsequent violations could result in a misdemeanor citation, he said.
Bikes or motorcycles
Giomi clarified the difference between e-bikes and e-motorcycles, explaining that e-bikes are designed and sold as bicycles that have an electric motor assist, and all have operable pedals and are categorized in three separate classes.
A Class 1 e-bike is an electric motor-assisted pedal bike with a maximum speed of 20 mph; a Class 2 e-bike is an electric motor-assisted pedal bike with a manual throttle and also with a maximum speed of 20 mph, Giomi said.
Meanwhile, Giomi said, a Class 3 e-bike is an electric motor-assisted pedal bike with a maximum speed of up to 28 mph. For these bikes, a rider must be at least 16 years old and all riders must wear helmets.
“All laws pertaining to bicycles are the same for riding e-bikes,” Giomi said.
Meanwhile, he said, e-motorcycles are designed and sold as motorcycles that do not have operational pedals, usually just foot pegs.
The e-motorcycles most kids are riding are only legal for use on private property or, if registered, as an off-highway vehicle. They “can be ridden where gas powered dirt bikes or other off highway vehicles are used,” Giomi said.
But not on city streets. E-motorcycles are illegal for use on roadways, public property and private property open to the public, he said.
“There are electric motorcycles that are legal to ride on the roadway, which are not the motorcycles typically ridden by juveniles,” Giomi said. “Those motorcycles are registered through DMV and issued a license plate and require insurance.”
Such motorcycle riders must also have all required safety equipment and a valid motorcycle permit or an M1 endorsement along with a Department of Transportation approved helmet to legally operate on the roadway, Giomi said.
‘A great tool’
None of this means electric two-wheeled vehicles aren’t useful. According to Giomi, while the department has seen a spike in incidents involving illegal use of such vehicles, “The vast majority of e-bike riders (adults and juveniles) exhibit responsible riding behavior.”
“E-bikes are a great tool for many people to get out in the community and around town without using a large vehicle,” Giomi said.
Meanwhile, the popularity of the vehicles continues to rise. To curb dangerous incidents, Giomi said the Petaluma Police Department remains dedicated to enforcing their responsible and legal use.
“The focus on this issue stems from a point of safety, to hopefully prevent a tragic collision from occurring,” Giomi said. “Not only do irresponsible riders pose a danger to themselves, they can also injure pedestrians or cause vehicle collisions which result in injuries.”
Recently, he added, the department’s traffic unit completed an all-day training at one of the local junior high schools to educate students on e-bike and bicycle safety.
Officers have also been working in cooperation with the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition and Safe Routes to School to educate parents and encourage safe behavior by riders, Giomi said.
