E-bike & B-safe Coronado!

Electric Bikes

Electric bikes are good for your health and an environmentally friendly way to travel, whether it be for fun, work or school. But safety first. They are heavier than standard bicycles and can travel faster than traditional bikes, raising potential safety concerns and the risk of accidents. The City of Coronado has developed an outreach e-bike safety campaign -- E-bike & B-safe Coronado! -- to help riders navigate more safely around the City.

Students, adults and visitors are all getting on board. It seems e-bikes are here to stay. They can be enjoyable and much easier to navigate due to the motors, propelling riders without the strenuous work of a standard bike. There are many different styles of e-bikes, which generally have fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. Some are built to take a passenger. Just make sure there is an extra seat.

E-bikes are becoming very popular in Coronado, and they can be found in school bike parking areas, along the Bayshore Bikeway and everywhere in between. If you ride an e-bike or are considering buying one, please take the time to learn about the potential dangers, rules of the road, and tips on how to stay safe.

The City has created handouts and education materials, a Public Service Announcement video, as well as other videos produced by the Coronado Police Department, and us offering a Bike Rodeo on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at the Police Department and will offer bicycle safety rodeos at local schools. Find all the materials here and at City facilities, including the Library, Police and Fire stations and at City Hall.

E-bike & B-safe Coronado!

E-bike Safety Campaign, Committee Update

E-bike & B-safe Coronado!

With the increasing use of e-bikes around Coronado, the City has launched the E-bike & B-safe Coronado! safety campaign, which will target students but also everyone who has been getting in on the growing popularity of electric bikes. The City has created handouts, will conduct outreach to local stakeholders -- such as bike rental companies, hotels, schools and visitor-serving groups -- to provide information, education and safety tips, and will host Bike Rodeos for students. Targeted e-bike videos and handouts will be pushed out via the City's website, social media, Coronado TV, the local media and the Comment Coronado public engagement website.

E-bike Ad Hoc Committee

As part of the City's efforts to better understand and deal with the e-bike trend, an internal ad-hoc committee was recently formed to take a closer look at the growing use of e-bikes within Coronado, and to determine the best ways to ensure for the safe operation of e-bikes. The committee is being led by the City Manager’s Office with representatives from Fire, Police and Traffic Safety and Recreation. The goal of the committee is to analyze usage of e-bikes, and to develop a variety of methods to engage the public on the safe operation of e-bikes and to review current regulations as they pertain to e-bikes. After a series of meetings, the committee has developed informational materials that will be distributed via partnerships with the Coronado Unified School District, Naval Air Station North Island, and local e-bikes rental shops. The launch of the public outreach campaign began on Oct. 19 and includes video, flyers, and website materials developed specifically on e-bikes. The committee will continue to meet in the coming months to gauge the success of the outreach campaign and to determine if additional enforcement actions are necessary to ensure for the continued safety of the community. A new state law has tasked the California Highway Patrol with developing statewide safety and training programs covering topics including general e-bike safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road and laws. The law seeks to provide specific tools in terms of safety education and training standards to communities to address their e-bike safety concerns. While most riders follow the rules, this will help cities with those who do not follow the rules. The CHP must develop the safety and training programs by September 2023.

Safety Tips

Wear a helmet

Protect yourself as best you can by always wearing a well-fitted helmet. It could save your life.

Obey all traffic laws

E-bikes are subject to the same traffic laws as regular bikes. Stop at traffic lights and stop signs. Stay on bike paths and in bike lanes, where possible. Wear a helmet. Don’t carry passengers on your electric bike.

Be aware of your speed

Get comfortable with the differences in speed settings. Remember how fast you are going, and brake earlier than you would on a standard bike.

Limit distractions

Mobile phones are potential distractions while riding a bike. Try not to let anything take your attention away.

Stand out from other commuters

Wear bright clothing or helmets. Use your lights and get reflectors when driving at dusk or in the dark. Ride on the proper side of the road, with traffic, not against it.

Conduct regular maintenance checks

Keep your tires property inflated. Get your bike serviced every 6 to 12 months. Check your brakes.

Be a defensive driver

Be aware of other riders and vehicles. Never assume someone sees you. Maintain eye contact with drivers at intersections. Use your turn signals or hand signs.

Equipment Requirements

(a) Brake required
(b) Handlebars above shoulder height prohibited
(c) Must be able to safely stop and place one foot to the ground when stopped
(d) During the hours of darkness, every bicycle will be equipped with the following:

1. White light to the front
2. Red reflector to the rear
3. White or yellow reflector on each pedal
4. White or yellow reflector to each side on the front and on the rear

E-bike Classifications

An electric bicycle is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. Three classes of electric bicycles have been established:

• Class 1: A low speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor which provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of 20 mph is reached.
• Class 2: A low speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a motor used exclusively to propel the bicycle and NOT capable of providing assistance when a speed of 20 mph is reached.
• Class 3: A low speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle equipped with a speedometer, and a motor which provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when a speed of 28 mph is reached.

The operator of a Class 3 electric bicycle:

• Must be 16 years old or older.

• Must wear a bicycle safety helmet.

• Must not transport passengers.

• May ride an electric bicycle in a bicycle lane if authorized by local authority or ordinance.

All electric bicycle classes are exempt from the motor vehicle financial responsibility, driver's license, and license plate requirements (CVC §24016).

Where can I ride?

The California Vehicle Code contains the state laws that specify where and how bikes must operate. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers. (VEH 21200). For the most part, you may ride your e-bike on most roads and highways where conventional bicycles are permitted, with some exceptions.

You cannot ride your e-bike on:

• on sidewalks in the commerical district and
• on the walkway on the beach side of the Coronado Shores

Coronado's Partners/Resources

The City is working with the Coronado Unified School District, the San Diego County Bike Coalition, the Coronado Police Department, local bike rental shops, and the hotels. The City also will provide information to the local Navy bases to share.

Resources

San Diego County Bike Coalition

City of San Diego-California Vehicle Code List

California Bicycle Coalition E-Bike Campaigns