SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — With spring break bringing crowds to the beaches, the San Diego Police Department is increasing enforcement on boardwalk e-bike violations in an effort to keep the busy walkways safe.
“We see a lot of new riders not only purchasing bikes but renting as well,” said Jared Allen, the sales manager at eBike Super Shop in Ocean Beach, where business is picking up this time of year.
Allen said they help customers get up to speed, especially out-of-towners and inexperienced young riders. “The best way to get around for a lot of people is an e-bike. You’re not dealing with traffic and parking. It’s just really convenient.”
The boardwalk may seem like a great place to ride – but it’s illegal.
It’s been that way since 2020, and back in October, the city of San Diego put up new signs in Pacific Beach and Mission Beach to remind people.
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“They’re all up and down the boardwalk,” said Ricardo Escalante, a sergeant with SDPD’s Community Oriented Policing Squad.
Sgt. Escalante and his team enforce e-bike regulations, which apply to anything with a motor, excluding devices used by those with disabilities.
SDPD has touted the effectiveness of its outreach with the community and bike shops. The Northern Division used October and November 2025 as an educational period and issued warnings after the signs were posted.
Citations went from 106 issued last December to 15 in March 2026. But that could soon change.
“Even though our enforcement citations might be going down as summer approaches, we know that there’s going to be a lot more people out here, so that activity is actually going to be trending upwards,” said Sgt. Escalante.
SDPD is cracking down, and fines can exceed $200.
“The complaints typically are ‘hey, we’re walking down the boardwalk, and we’re almost getting run over by e-bikers going at high rates of speed,’” said Sgt. Escalante.
Additionally, heading into summer, the department adds more resources and beefs up staff on the beach patrol teams.
“We want them to enjoy our beautiful beaches, but at the end of the day, we just need everybody to follow the rules,” said Sgt. Escalante.
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