Poway prohibits children under 12 from riding e-bikes

Children under 12 can no longer ride electric bicycles in Poway, nor can anyone ride an e-bike, or any bicycle, on any sidewalk in a business district.

Those rules were among several regulations the Poway City Council approved 3-0 (with Christoper Pikus and Tony Blain absent) during a second reading at its Oct. 21 meeting. The ordinance amended the municipal code to establish safety regulations for e-bike users.

The ordinance was first approved, 4-0 (with Tony Blain absent) following some revisions, on Oct. 7, with no speakers commenting. The second vote was part of the council’s consent calendar and also drew no speakers.

The new rules take effect Nov. 21, 30 days after the second approval. Warnings will be issued during the first 60 days. After that, infractions can start at $25 and incrementally increase to $250 following multiple convictions. The city also can seize and confiscate any e-bike operated in violation of the ordinance’s provisions.

“Use of electric bicycles is an ever-growing public safety concern, especially among children,” the city staff report said. In addition, “collisions involving electric bicycles result in greater damage to all vehicles, property and individuals involved when compared to traditional bicycle accidents.”

The new rules apply to city streets, sidewalks, public paths set aside for the use of bicycles and other property under the city’s jurisdiction.

Among the new rules:

• It is unlawful for any person operating an e-bike to fail to obey the instructions of official traffic-control signs and other devices that are applicable to vehicles or bicycles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

• No one under age 12 may operate or ride a Class 1 or Class 2 electric bicycle within the city.

• No one under age 16 may operate or ride a Class 3 e-bike within Poway.

• No operator under age 18 may transport any passengers on any e-bike.

• All persons operating an e-bike or riding as a passenger shall ride on a permanent and regular seat attached to the bike, or on a separate seat attached thereto, per the California Vehicle Code.

• Anyone under age 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet when riding a bicycle or e-bike.

• E-bike riders must operate it at a speed not greater than reasonable or prudent under existing conditions, nor travel over 28 mph on a public highway or over 10 mph on a sidewalk. The speed for sidewalks is decreased to no more than 5 mph in a school zone when children are present.

The ordinance also includes provisions pertaining to parking, yielding to pedestrians and equestrians, and a prohibition in playgrounds, parks and school grounds not designated as a bicycle path or route.

E-bikes also need to travel in the same direction as vehicles.

In other council business:

The council voted (3-0) to to submit four applications for the fiscal year 2026-27 Community Development Block Grant Program and to authorize the appropriation of $199,261.14 to the CDBG Fund from the General Fund as a loan to fund the proposed program upon approval by the county, as recommended by the city manager.

According to the presentation, the funding allocations are:

• $20,000 for North County Bridge to Housing Network, which provides shelter, meals and case management support for the North County unhoused population. In FY25 it served 465 individuals and provided 157 shelter beds.

• $16,946 for 2-1-1 San Diego, which provides information and referral services as well as application assistance and completion. In FY25 it served 1,220 low-income Poway residents.

• $16,000 for HomeShare & Community Connections (Elderhelp), which provides a shared housing match, referral services and transportation services. In FY25 it served 78 low-income Poway residents with eight on-going housing matches.

• $146,315.14 for Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility improvements at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. This includes upgrades to install handrails to ramps and stairs to meet ADA requirements needed to make Poway’s public facilities accessible for all community members.

City Councilmember Peter De Hoff commented that the presentation showed there is “a fairly large need for these types of funds.”

Mayor Steve Vaus also said that he was “surprised” at the cost for the ADA improvements to the PCPA.