New E-Bike Rules Hit Lake Forest Thursday: What To Know

LAKE FOREST, CA — The City of Lake Forest is tightening the rules when it comes to riding electronic bicycles, as a new e-bike ordinance takes effect in Lake Forest Thursday.

City council members passed the new ordinance at their November meeting in response to the mounting complaints from the community regarding unsafe e-bike usage.

The new ordinance codifies several e-bike usage rules into municipal law. Here's what you need to know before you get on your e-bike in Lake Forest.

• When riding an e-bike — or any kind of alternative transportation — on sidewalks, riders are not permitted to travel above five miles per hour. Speeds around certain areas that have pedestrian foot traffic, such as churches and schools, should be adjusted to provide right-of-way and ensure safety.
• When riding an e-bike — or any kind of alternative transportation — on city street, residents are not permitted to travel about 10 miles per hour, unless lower speed limits are posted.
• When riding in city parks, travelers must limit their speed to five miles per hour on all sidewalks, paths and walkways. Riders are prohibited from "reckless operation" and required to yield the right of way to pedestrians.
• Helmet requirements have also been codified into municipal law. All residents under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle, e-bike, scooter, roller skates or similar transportation device.
• E-bikes, or other motorized transportation devices, are not prohibited from the Etnies Skatepark.

As the ordinance comes into effect, Lake Forest Mayor Robert Pequeño told residents in a video that Orange County Sheriff deputies would be ramping up their patrol efforts to ensure that residents are complying with the rules.

"We've all seen examples of riders using e-bikes in a manner that is anything but safe," Pequeño said in the video. "The city continues to get complaints about the issue. That's why the city council strengthened our laws on e-bike use."

To find the city's rules regarding e-bike use, visit the City of Lake Forest's website.

Lake Forest residents looking to report unsafe e-bike usage are asked to call the OC Sheriff's Department's non-emergnecy number at 949-770-6011.