Chula Vista Municipal Code Ch. 10.73 Electric Micromobility Vehicles

ELECTRIC MICROMOBILITY VEHICLES

Sections:

• 10.73.010 Title.

• 10.73.020 Purpose and intent.

• 10.73.030 Exemptions.

• 10.73.040 Minimum ages to operate Class 1 or 2 electric bicycles.

• 10.73.050 Restrictions for passengers on electric micromobility vehicles.

• 10.73.060 Helmets required.

• 10.73.070 Safe operation of electric micromobility vehicles.

• 10.73.080 Operating electric micromobility vehicles: prohibitions and restrictions.

• 10.73.090 Operating electric micromobility vehicles in City-owned parking structures.

• 10.73.100 Operating electric micromobility vehicles in parks and other City facilities.

• 10.73.110 Parking of electric micromobility vehicles.

• 10.73.120 Violations – Penalties.

• 10.73.130 Effective date.

This chapter is known as the “Electric Micromobility Vehicle Safety Ordinance,” may be cited as such, and will be referred to herein as “this chapter.” (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

The purpose of this chapter is to establish rules governing the use of electric micromobility vehicles within the City. With such rules, the City desires to protect the health, safety, and welfare of riders of electric micromobility vehicles and the general public as authorized by the California Vehicle Code, including, but not limited to, California Vehicle Code Section 21214.7 (the San Diego Electric Bicycle Safety Pilot Program). (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

The following persons are exempted from the provisions of this chapter:

A. Disabled Persons. Disabled persons operating an electric micromobility vehicle or other similar motorized or nonmotorized mobility assistance device for mobility or similar purposes shall be fully exempt from the requirements and prohibitions in this chapter.

B. Public Agency Personnel. Public agency personnel operating or riding an electric micromobility vehicle or other similar motorized or nonmotorized mobility device as part of and within the scope of their official duties are exempt from the requirements and prohibitions in this chapter. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

• A. No person under 12 years of age may operate or ride a Class 1 or Class 2 electric bicycle within the City.

B. No person shall knowingly permit a person under 12 years of age to operate a Class 1 or Class 2 electric bicycle within the City.

C. This section, CVMC 10.73.040, shall remain in effect until January 1, 2029, and as of that date is repealed unless otherwise extended by the City Council. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

A. No operator under 18 years of age may transport any passengers on any electric micromobility vehicle.

B. All persons operating an electric bicycle or riding as a passenger on an electric bicycle shall ride on a permanent and regular seat attached to the electric bicycle, or on a separate seat attached thereto, as required to comply with the requirements of California Vehicle Code Section 21204. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

A. No person under 18 years of age may operate any electric micromobility vehicle unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet, as required by California Vehicle Code Sections 21212, 21213, and 21235.

B. All persons operating or riding a Class 3 electric bicycle must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet in accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 21213. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

A. No person shall operate or use an electric micromobility vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.

B. A person operating an electric micromobility vehicle upon a sidewalk shall exercise due care under the circumstances and conditions then existing. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

Except as provided in CVMC 10.73.030, the following prohibition and restrictions apply to using, riding, or operating electric micromobility vehicles within the City:

A. No person shall use, ride, or operate any electric micromobility vehicle upon any sidewalk within any business district as described by this code, nor upon a sidewalk within the City containing signs posted by the City Engineer prohibiting such use, riding, or operation.

• B. No person shall use, ride, or operate a Class 3 electric bicycle upon any sidewalk within the City.

• C. No person shall use, ride, or operate a motorized scooter:

  1. Upon a sidewalk.

  2. Upon a roadway or highway or outside of a striped bicycle lane (Class II facility) or separated bikeway (Class IV facility), where the posted speed limit is 40 miles per hour or greater.

D. In accordance with Section 21235(b) of the California Vehicle Code, the City hereby authorizes the use and operation of motorized scooters outside of a Class II or Class IV bikeway on a highway with a speed limit of up to 35 miles per hour.

E. The 15 mile per hour maximum speed for the operation of a motorized scooter specified in California Vehicle Code Section 22411 applies to the operation of a motorized scooter on all highways, including bikeways, regardless of a higher speed limit applicable to such highway.

F. A person operating an electric micromobility vehicle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to persons not operating such vehicles. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

No person shall operate an electric micromobility vehicle in a City-owned parking structure, except for the limited purpose of accessing parking or to travel through for the purpose of accessing a destination. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

Use of electric micromobility vehicles in parks and other City facilities shall comply with Chapter 2.66 CVMC. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

A. The City Engineer is hereby authorized to designate and establish electric micromobility vehicle parking spaces for use at such locations and during such times as he or she may deem suitable and necessary.

B. When official signs or markings restricting parking to electric micromobility vehicles are in place, no person shall park or stand any vehicle other than an electric micromobility vehicle in such a space.

C. Electric micromobility vehicles shall be parked upright. Electric micromobility vehicles not parked in designated parking spaces shall be parked in hardscaped areas and shall not be parked in areas that are landscaped with grass, shrubs, or other vegetation or in any other position so as to impede travel by pedestrians.

• D. It shall be unlawful to park an electric micromobility vehicle on sidewalks in the following areas:

  1. Within 10 feet of any curb ramp or driveway;

  2. Within 15 feet of any marked or unmarked crosswalk;

  3. Within 10 feet of a curb parallel to a bus stop, except in designated electric micromobility vehicle parking spaces;

  4. Within 10 feet of a marked and signed loading zone as defined in CVMC 10.08.120;

5. Within 10 feet of a marked and signed ADA-accessible parking space;

6. Within five feet of street furniture that requires pedestrian access, including, but not limited to, benches, parking pay stations, and bus shelters;

7. Within five feet of permitted outdoor dining areas;

8. Within a transit platform or transit waiting area except at designated bicycle parking spaces. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

• A. It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision or fail to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter or any regulation adopted hereunder.

B. For the first 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, the punishment for a violation of this chapter shall be a warning notice.

• C. After the first 90 days after the effective date of this chapter, violations shall be punishable as follows:

  1. A violation of CVMC 10.73.040(A) shall be an infraction with a fine of $25.00.

     • a. A record of the action shall not be transmitted to the court and a fee shall not be imposed upon a citation for this infraction if the parent or legal guardian of the person who violated the prohibition delivers proof to the issuing agency within 120 days after the citation was issued that the person has completed an electric bicycle safety and training program pursuant to Section 894 of the Streets and Highways Code.

  2. All other violations shall be punishable as an infraction with a fine of $50.00 for the first conviction and $100.00 for the second conviction. A maximum fine of up to $250.00 may be imposed for each conviction thereafter.

D. If an unemancipated minor violates this chapter, a parent or legal guardian with control or custody of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed.

E. Any person cited and convicted of three or more infractions of this chapter may be barred from the use of electric micromobility vehicles in City-owned parking structures, lots, parks, or other City facilities.

F. The City shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any electric micromobility vehicle operated in violation of these provisions if the owner is not present or cannot be present in a reasonable amount of time. The owner will be responsible for payment of any associated storage fees prior to release of such vehicle.

G. The City shall have the authority to take and impound electric micromobility vehicles of persons found violating this chapter, and to hold the same for a period not to exceed 30 days.

1. In the event that a minor is found violating any provision of this chapter, the City shall have the authority to take and impound the electric micromobility vehicle of such minor. During the 30-day impound period, the City shall notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) or other person(s) having the custody and control of the minor of such offense, and secure, if possible, the cooperation and assistance of such parent(s) or guardian(s) or other person(s) having the custody and control of the minor, in preventing the recurrence of such offense by such minor. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).

This chapter shall take effect and be in force on September 4, 2025. (Ord. 3597 § 5, 2025).