By C. Jayden Smith
The San Clemente City Council selected Tuesday night time, Dec. 21, to start work on a collection of steps supposed to maximize pedestrian security all through town in regard to electrical bikes and bicycles.
Councilmembers directed workers to come again with an ordinance prohibiting e-bikes on the Beach Trail and all different trails, and voted to amend the municipal code by prohibiting the strolling, pushing, and parking of each e-bikes and bicycles on the municipal pier.
The council on Tuesday additionally directed workers to enhance bicycle racks on the base of the pier, in addition to come again with a report on the feasibility of prohibiting and regulating the usage of bicycles and e-bikes on San Clemente’s sidewalks.
Since February, town has moved to enhance security for all on sidewalks, trails and close to the seashores and the municipal pier by way of public outreach and training on bicycle use.
Additionally, an internet portal for the general public to touch upon e-bike-related incidents and shut calls was made out there in March and obtained 367 feedback as of Tuesday night time.
In May, metropolis workers partnered with San Clemente Police Services to maintain a “Bike Safety Rodeo,” and town launched a video in June that included extra messages about correct operations and basic bike security.
Samantha Wylie, director of the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Department, offered a abstract of a report from her workers on the matter. They discovered a rise in e-bikes being walked, ridden, or parked alongside the pier, wherein the latter motion was not beforehand prohibited.
Wylie talked about that folks usually rode their e-bikes as soon as they noticed that they might stroll them with none problem from police or sheriff’s deputies.
“Based on that understanding, and surveying what we’re seeing, there is a recommendation tonight for council to direct staff to bring back at least a code amendment to that municipal code … that specifies no future parking, walking, or pushing of e-bikes (on the pier),” Wylie stated.
City workers additionally regarded for course from the council on addressing e-bikes alongside the Beach Trail and anyplace else vital.
Several audio system commented in regards to the hazard of these autos on each the streets and the path, referring to a number of incidents wherein they not too long ago witnessed accidents or near-accidents.
“I also suggest that these vehicles, which I consider motorized vehicles, be licensed by the city with a plate so that one can report a violation if it occurs,” Al Cullen stated throughout public feedback. “Otherwise, there is absolutely no way to have anyone know who is riding that bike or what the bike is.”
“You get on it, roll that throttle back, and you go 28 miles an hour. It’s not a bicycle, it’s a motorcycle,” Rick Loeffler, who sits on town’s Public Safety Committee, stated of e-bikes. “Remember, 6- and 7-year-old kids can get on those, crank those up, and we do need to address this.”
Councilmembers Steve Knoblock and Laura Ferguson agreed with the workers’s suggestions and wished to see course by way of eradicating e-bikes from San Clemente sidewalks.
Councilmember Kathy Ward spoke of her interactions with college students at the highschool, as additionally they desired limitations and basic e-bike security.
“They said that they see near-misses and accidents almost every day,” Ward stated. “This is coming from our 17-year-old kids, who are on the bikes more often than we are.”
She added that town ought to defer to California’s Assembly Bill No. 1096, handed in October 2015, that created three courses of e-bikes relying on their pace capabilities and motor capabilities.
The invoice additionally prevented Class 3 e-bikes, which may attain 28 miles per hour or better, on specified paths or trails until in any other case approved, and granted native governments authority to prohibit Class 1 or 2 e-bikes.
The primary concern got here from Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan, who introduced up the extent of manpower vital to implement the potential code amendments and ordinances. Mayor Gene James echoed these considerations. Duncan in any other case supported the suggestions.
“I don’t know that we have a community that we need to police that diligently,” Knoblock stated. “I think if we make a statement that (e-bikes are) not allowed and we post it, I think people are going to obey the law. It’s the few that don’t that we can enforce, so I’m not concerned about the enforcement.”
The subject of e-bikes and bicycles on sidewalks will obtain continued consideration into 2022, as town hopes to make clear for pedestrians and riders which precise areas the bikes are prohibited.
C. Jayden Smith graduated from Dana Hills High in 2018 earlier than pursuing a Bachelor’s diploma in digital and broadcast journalism from the University of North Texas. After graduating in December 2020, he reported for the Salina Journal in Salina, Kansas. Jayden loves school soccer and bothering his black lab named Shadow.