Bike and e-bike Ordinances

Aliso Viejo

A. Designated Trails. No person shall operate a bicycle on a road or trail in any designated park or recreational area except upon roads or trails designated for bicycle traffic by the director or, in the case of a private park, the consenting owner.

B. Unsafe Operation. No person shall operate a bicycle in any designated park or recreational area in any manner that endangers any person or animal or at a speed that is greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for other users and the surface, width, and grade of the road or trail, and in no event in excess of 10 miles per hour, unless a greater speed is posted.

C. Bicycle Parking. No person shall leave a bicycle lying on its side on a road or trail in any designated park or recreational area in such a way to obstruct pedestrian, equestrian, or vehicle traffic.

D. Helmets. No person under 18 years of age shall operate a bicycle, or ride upon a bicycle as a passenger on any road, bikeway or trail in any designated park or recreational area unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. The bicycle helmet must meet the standards set forth in California Vehicle Code Section 21212. [Ord. 2010-126 § 1 (Exh. A)].

N. Motorized Wheeled Conveyance Prohibited. No person shall operate or drive any electric or combustible motorized skateboard, scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 313 (e.g., SegwaysTM), dirt bike, mini bike, mini motor bike, mini motorcycle, go-kart, go-ped, moped, all-terrain vehicle, quad runner, dune buggy or any similar electric or combustible motorized wheeled conveyance in any designated park or recreational area. The prohibition in this subsection shall not apply to motorized wheelchairs, scooters or similar modes of personal conveyance when in operation by a disabled person.- Amended Chapter 10.06 iof Title 10 and Chapter 11.10 of the municode(As of 09/21/22)

10.06.020 Bicycles operation 

A. Direction of Travel. Persons riding or operating a bicycle or electric bicycle 

on a bicycle trail or path may proceed in either direction except on those 

trails or paths designated for one-way traffic by appropriate markings or     

signs.B. Walking Bicycles. Bicycles and electric bicycles may be walked subject to all provisions of the law applicable to pedestrians.                                                                                                                                                                                                       10.06.030 Recreational transportation on sidewalks.

A. Riding on Sidewalks. Bicycles, electric bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, nonmotorized and motorized scooters, nonmotorized skateboards,electrically motorized boards, electric personal assistive mobility devices, 

and other similar nonmotorized and motorized forms of transportation may be ridden or operated on all sidewalks within the City at a speed not to 

exceed five miles per hour except as otherwise prohibited by this chapter.Motorized vehicles shall not be permitted to be ridden upon sidewalks. B. Nonmotorized and motorized recreational transportation, as provided in 

subsection (A) of this section, shall be operated at a speed that is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for weather, visibility, pedestrian and vehicular traffic, and the surface and width of the sidewalk, and in no event at a speed that endangers the safety of any person or property. C. Prohibitions. Notwithstanding subsection (A) of this section, bicycles, electric bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, nonmotorized and motorized scooters, nonmotorized skateboards, electrically motorized boards, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and other similar nonmotorized and motorized forms of transportation shall not be ridden or operated upon the following:

1. Sidewalks within a commercial or business center or complex; 2. Sidewalks adjacent to any public school building when school is in session;3. Sidewalks and parking lots adjacent to or within any community or recreation center when in use;4. Sidewalks adjacent to a church during services; 5. Parking lots of any property owned or operated by the City; or 6. Any pedestrian overcrossing or other sidewalk where prohibited by 

posted signs.D. Public Works Director to Designate Additional Prohibitions. Notwithstanding subsection (A) of this section, the public works director, or his or her designee, may designate and declare certain portions of sidewalk where the riding or operation of bicycles, electric bicycles, roller skates, roller blades, nonmotorized and motorized scooters, nonmotorized skateboards, electrically motorized boards, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and other similar nonmotorized and motorized forms of transportation is prohibited.E. Public Works Director to Post Signs. The public works director, or his or her designee, shall erect and maintain signs adjacent to sidewalks designating limits and prohibitions authorized by this chapter.F. No Effect on ADA Power-Driven Mobility Devices. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, wheelchairs and other power-driven mobility devices used as a mobility aid by a person with a disability may be ridden or operated on all sidewalks in the City at the speed of pedestrian traffic and in a manner which is safe for the user and other pedestrians.G. Yielding Right-of-Way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle, electric bicycle, roller skates, roller blades, a nonmotorized or motorized scooter, a nonmotorized skateboard, electrically motorized board, electric personal 

assistive mobility devices, or other similar nonmotorized or motorized form of transportation, such person shall yield right-of-way to any and all pedestrians. A person riding or operating any such form of transportation shall further yield to all traffic upon entering a roadway or driveway.10.06.040 Skateboards, roller skates and similar pedestrian traffic. A. No person shall ride a nonmotorized skateboard, electric personal assistive mobility devices, roller skates, roller blades, nonmotorized scooter, or other conveyance propelled by human power other than a bicycle, or cause or permit the same to roll or coast on the roadway of any street in the city. B. The provisions of subsection (A) of this section shall not apply to cul-desacs where the length of the cul-de-sac is 500 feet or less. 10.06.050 Pedestrian movements.The public works director, or his or her designee, is hereby authorized to place and maintain signs or markings to prohibit or to restrict pedestrian crossings at certain intersections.

Laguna Beach

10.02.020 Bicycles and electric personal assistive mobility devices on sidewalks and within city parks.

(a) It is unlawful for any person, except for authorized law enforcement personnel, to operate a bicycle upon any sidewalk, the Main Beach Boardwalk, or any area within any city park.

(b) It is unlawful for any person, except for authorized law enforcement personnel and for persons with disabilities, to operate any electric personal assistive mobility device (as defined by the California Vehicle Code and sometimes also known or referred to as Segways, T-3 Motions and/or motorized scooters) or any golf cart or low speed vehicle (as defined by the California Vehicle Code) on any sidewalk on Pacific Coast Highway, within the central business district, Main Beach Boardwalk, or any area within any city park. (Ord. 1614 § 1, 2016; Ord. 1546 § 1, 2011; Ord. 1509 § 1, 2009; Ord. 1299 § 1, 1995; Ord. 1081 § 1, 1985).

Laguna Hills

11-32.020 Bicycle operation.Share

A.    Riding in Group. Persons operating bicycles within a bicycle lane or upon a bicycle path shall ride in single file except as provided for in CVC Section 21202(a).

B.    Direction of Travel. Persons riding or operating a bicycle on a bicycle trail or path may proceed in either direction except on those trails or paths designated for one-way traffic by appropriate markings or signs defined by the direction of adjacent vehicular traffic.

C.    Walking Bicycles. Bicycles may be walked subject to all provisions of law applicable to pedestrians.

D.    Yielding Right-of-Way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield right-of-way to any and all pedestrians. A person riding a bicycle upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk shall yield to all traffic.

(OCC §§ 6-4-500, 6-4-501(d))

11-32.030 General prohibition.Share

A.    It is unlawful and subject to punishment in accordance with Section 11-32.080 of this chapter for any person utilizing or riding upon rollerskates, bicycles, skateboards, scooters, or similar devices to ride or move about in or on any public or private property when the same has been designated by resolution of the City Council and posted as a no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area.

B.    It is unlawful and subject to punishment in accordance with Section 11-32.080 of this chapter, for any person utilizing or riding upon rollerskates or skateboards, or similar devices to ride upon the roadway of any public street, except cul-de-sac streets of five hundred (500) feet or less in length.

(Ord. 2000-5 § 2: prior code § 6-12.020)

11-32.040 Designation of public property as no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area.Share

The City Council may designate any public sidewalk or other public property as a no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area. The City Council shall designate such area by resolution and order the posting of appropriate signage in accordance with Section 11-32.060 of this chapter. Notice of the City Council’s proposed designation shall be provided as follows:

A.    For sidewalks on highways, listed in the master plan of arterial highways, the City Clerk shall cause notice of City Council consideration of such action to be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least five days prior to the City Council consideration.

B.    For other public property the City Clerk shall cause additional notice of City Council consideration by means of posting such notice along the highway or sidewalk or on the public property.

(Ord. 2000-5 § 3, prior code § 6-12.030)

11-32.050 Designation of private property as no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area.Share

The City Council may, by resolution, designate any private property within a business district, or which is primarily used for commercial or recreational purposes, as a no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area. The City Council may so designate this private property subject to the following:

A.    If the property is owner/occupied property, the property owner shall submit a written petition requesting a designation of no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling, or scooter area.

B.    If the property is occupied by tenants of the owner, then the tenants shall submit a written petition by a majority of the tenants on the property supporting a designation of a no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area and the petition shall also contain written consent of the property owner.

C.    The City Clerk shall cause notice of City Council consideration of this petition to be mailed to all tenants in the subject private property as well as to the owner at least five days prior to City Council consideration.

The City Council may approve or deny the request for designation of the no rollerskating, skateboarding, bicycling or scooter area. (Ord. 2000-5 § 4: prior code § 6-12.040)

Laguna Woods

Sec. 8.12.010. – Bicycle operation.       

(a)Direction of travel. Persons riding or operating a bicycle on a bicycle trail or path may proceed in either direction except on those trails or paths designated for one-way traffic by appropriate markings or signs defined by the direction of adjacent vehicular traffic.(b)Walking bicycles. Bicycles may be walked subject to all provisions of law applicable to pedestrians.

(OCC § 6-4-500)

Sec. 8.12.020. – Bicycles on sidewalks.        

(a)Riding on sidewalks. Bicycles may be ridden on all sidewalks at a speed not to exceed five miles per hour except upon sidewalks within a business district, upon sidewalks adjacent to any public school building when school is in session, recreation center when in use, church during services, over any pedestrian overcrossing or other sidewalk where prohibited by posted signs.(b)Director to designate prohibitions. The City Manager or designee may designate and declare certain portions of sidewalk to be prohibited to bicycle use.(c)Director to post prohibitions. The City Manager or designee is authorized to erect and maintain signs adjacent to sidewalks designating limits of bicycle prohibitions.(d)Yielding right-of-way. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield right-of-way to any and all pedestrians. A person riding a bicycle upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk shall yield to all traffic.