ORDINANCE 1679ORDINANCE NO. 1679
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLES 1 AND 8 OF THE EL SEGUNDO
MUNICIPAL CODE TO REGULATE ELECTRIC BICYCLES, OFF -
HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLES, MOTORIZED BICYCLES, MOTORIZED
SCOOTERS, POCKET BIKES AND ANY OTHER ELECTRIC OR
MOTORIZED CONVEYANCE IN THE CITY
The City Council of the City of El Segundo does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings. The City Council finds and declares as follows:
A. Since 2022, the El Segundo Police Department has seen a significant increase
in community member complaints and traffic crashes involving e-bikes;
B. Manufacturers such as Sur -Ron, Talaria, Segway, and E Ride Pro sell electric
off -highway motorcycles that are often inaccurately referred to as electrical
bicycles, commonly called "E-Bikes" and have often been sold and advertised
by retailers as such;
C. Although California state law prohibits off -highway motorcycles from being
operated on public roadways or sidewalks (VC § 38025), illegal offroad electric
motorcycles are still being operated unlawfully on the City's public roadways
and parks;
D. The California Vehicle Code ("VC") authorizes police officers to impound
vehicles for various reasons, such as street racing, DUls, and driving without
a valid license, because the California Vehicle Code defines off -highway
motorcycles as a conveyance rather than a vehicle, El Segundo police officers
lack the authority to impound such conveyances,
E. The City's existing code is not up to date considering the proliferation of off -
highway motorcycles and electric bikes in the City;
F. The California Constitution provides that a city may make and enforce within
its limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in
conflict with general law (Cal. Const. art. XI, § 7);
G. The California Vehicle Code defines Bicycle (VC § 231), Off -Highway
Motorcycle (VC §§ 400, 436), Electric Bicycle (VC § 312.5), Motorized Bicycle
or MOPED (VC § 406), Motorized Scooter (VC § 407.5), and Pocket Bike (VC
§ 473);
H. El Segundo Municipal Code (ESMC) section 8-1-1 provides that "[w]henever
any words or phrases used herein are not defined but are defined in the
Vehicle Code of the state and amendments thereto, those definitions shall
apply"; and
Ordinance No. 1679
Page 1 of 5
The City Council desires to protect the health, safety and welfare of the
residents of El Segundo and the public.
SECTION 3: Environmental Review. Pursuant to the authority and criteria of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it has been determined that the adoption and
implementation of this ordinance is not a project for purposes of CEQA in that it is a
general policy regarding the operation of off -highway motorcycles, electric bicycles and
motorized bicycles. Even if it were a project, the proposed ordinance does not have the
potential to cause significant effects to the environment and, therefore, it is exempt from
CEQA pursuant to 14 Cal. Code Regs. § 15061(b)(3). This proposed ordinance would not
result in any development or changes to the physical environment.
SECTION 4, Section 8-4-24 of the El Segundo Municipal Code ("ESMC") is amended as
follows:
8-4-24: COASTERS-AND-SKATESOAR.DS, SIDEWALKS IN BUSINESS
DISTRICT PUBLIC PARK OR RECREATION AREA4:
A. Use Restricted: No person shall ride, operate, coast or propel himsel#
themself down, along, upon or over any sidewalk in or on any
skateboard, rollerblades, in -line skates, wagon, cart, hand wagon,
coaster, bicycle, off-highway.-motorc cle electric bic cle
motorized bicyclepocket bike motorized scooter, or any other
electric or motorized conveyance, or other vehicle in any business
district, public park or recreation area.
B. Exception: Skateboarding' and freestyle bicycling shall only be
permitted in areas designated by the city.
C. This section is not intended to a2pl1y to or otherwise restrict
electric or motorized wheelchairs or 4-wheel mobili scooters
beinn operated in a safe mann2Lby an individual with a d'isabili
as that term is defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act
42 U.S.C.. Section 12101 et seg.) and A oendix II Federal
Regulations.
1. See also title 10, chapter 4 of this code for provisions relative to
skateboard parks.
SECTION 5. Chapter4 of Title 8 of the El Segundo Municipal Code ("ESMC") is amended
to add the following section:
"8-4-25: OFF -HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLES, ELECTRIC BICYCLES, AND
OTHER BIKES AND CONVEYANCES.
Ordinance No. 1679
Page 2 of 5
A. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate any bicycle, off -highway
motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor -driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized
scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance upon any street,
highway, path, lane or any area of the City in an unsafe manner. "Unsafe
manner" means operating in such a way as to constitute a danger to the
operator, a passenger, other motorists, other riders, or pedestrians in
the area.
B. It is unlawful for any person to ride or operate any bicycle, off -highway
motorcycle, electric bicycle, motor -driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized
scooter, or any other electric or motorized conveyance upon any street,
path, lane or any area of the City while under the influence of an
alcoholic beverage or any drug or under the combined influence of an
alcoholic beverage and any drug.
C. No person riding or operating a bicycle, off -highway motorcycle, electric
bicycle, motor -driven cycle, pocket bike, motorized scooter, or any other
electric or motorized conveyance shall transport another person upon
such vehicle or conveyance unless such passenger is seated upon a
separate seat attached to the bike or conveyance.
D. If a juvenile is cited for violating this section, the City officer issuing the
citation may impound the bike or conveyance. The officer shall provide
written notice to the juvenile of the place to which the bike or conveyance
has been removed. Such impounded bike or conveyance may only be
released to an adult responsible for the juvenile upon payment of the
impound fee established by the City Council."
SECTION 6. Section 1-2-4 (Provisions Punishable as Infractions) is amended to add the
following code sections to the list of violations punishable as infractions:
8-4-25: Off -Highway Motorcycles, Electric Bicycles, and other Bikes and
Conveyances.
SECTION 7. Validity of Previous Code Sections. If the entire Ordinance or its application
is deemed invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, any repeal of the ESMC or other
regulation by this Ordinance will be rendered void and cause such ESMC provision or
other regulation to remain in full force and effect for all purposes.
SECTION 8. Enforceability. Repeal or amendment of any previous Code Sections does
not affect any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred before, or preclude prosecution and
imposition of penalties for any violation occurring before this Ordinance's effective date.
Any such repealed part will remain in full force and effect for sustaining action or
prosecuting violations occurring before the effective date of this Ordinance.
Ordinance No. 1679
Page 3 of 5
SECTION'' g. Severability. If any part of this Ordinance or its application is deemed invalid
by a court of competent jurisdiction, the City Council intends that such invalidity will not
affect the effectiveness of the remaining provision or application and, to this end, the
provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 10. The City Clerk, or her duly appointed deputy, is directed to certify the
passage and adoption of this Ordinance; cause it to be entered into the City of El
Segundo's book of original ordinances; make a note of the passage and adoption in the
records of this meeting; and, within fifteen (15) days after the passage and adoption of
this Ordinance, cause it to be published or posted in accordance with California law.
SECTION 11. Effective Date. This Ordinance will become effective on the 31st day
following its passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 31d day of December, 2025.
A"ruax,
Sdrk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mark D. ensley, City Attorney
Cr Pimentel, Mayor
Ordinance No. 1679
Page 4 of 5
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO )
I, Susan Truax, City Clerk of the City of El Segundo, California, do hereby certify that the
whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the foregoing
Ordinance No. 1679 was duly introduced by said City Council at a regular meeting held
on the 18t" day of November, 2025, and was duly passed, and adopted by said City
Council, approved and signed by the Mayor, and attested to by the City Clerk, all at a
regular meeting of said Council held on the 31d day of December, 2025, and the same
was so passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Pimentel, Mayor Pro Tem Baldino, Council Member Giroux and
Council Member Keldorf
NOES: None
ABSENT: Council Member Boyles
ABSTAIN: None
WITNESS MY HAND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF SAID CITY this 3rd day of December,
2025."
Susa�Truax, City Clerk
of the ity of El Segundo,
California
Ordinance No. 1679
Page 5 of 5