Danville pumps the brakes on e-bikes

DANVILLE, Calif. - As e-bikes and e-scooters continue to explode in popularity, leaders in one East Bay community unanimously approved a set of new rules for e-bikes and e-scooters.

Danville hits the brakes

What we know:

The Danville Town Council met Tuesday night to discuss the issue, voting unanimously in favor of the first reading of an ordinance that does three things: 1) E-bikes and e-scooters must be walked once inside the grounds of city parks; 2) E-bikes and e-scooters can only ride on paved trails; and 3) All bikes and scooters - electric or not - must not go more than 15-miles-per-hour on those trails. Anyone caught traveling faster than 15 miles per hour could face a citation from local police.

"Make no mistake, e-bikes and those devices are here to stay," said Danville Mayor Newell Arnerich. "They give mobility to young people, but right now it’s kind of like an adult giving the keys to a car to their kids and saying, ‘Have a nice day. We have the responsibility, as the adults in our society, to create guardrails."

Arnerich referenced an incident in Danville earlier this year in which a 12 yr old boy and his parents were cited for riding too fast – 50 miles per hour. However, the child was riding an e-motorcycle, not an e-bike. Speeds on a class 3 e-bike top out at around 28 miles per hour. Arnerich said the confusion between the different types of electric vehicles made the town council decide to have the speed limits apply to all types of personal electric vehicles. 

The proposal generated significant public comment during the meeting. 

Supporters highlighted safety concerns, with one speaker noting they had experienced two near-misses that almost caused them to fall into the road, adding that some e-bikes were traveling faster than cars on the street.

Some residents support additional regulations, particularly on popular trails where riders and pedestrians share space.

"We walk on the trail a lot and we do get whizzed by, by mostly young kids," said Danville resident Julie Christensen. "But we think it’s great they’re out and about. But I don’t think it would be bad to regulate the speed limit."

Her husband, John Christensen, agreed that e-bikes provide valuable independence for young riders but said safety should remain a priority.

"It’s great they’re not getting dropped off," he said. "I think we have to find a good way to encourage it, but not put other people at risk."

Others cautioned against judging all riders based on the actions of a few.

"I think kids glued to their phones is way more dangerous than e-bikes," said Danville resident Misha Yusunov. "Just a few reckless ones ruin it for the rest."

The discussion comes as communities across the Bay Area grapple with how to balance the growing popularity of e-bikes with concerns about speed, enforcement and public safety.

Town leaders will have a second reading of the ordinance on July 7, and it will go into effect 30 days later - in time for the start of the new school year. 

Danville