El Cajon Municipal Code § 9.42.010 Purpose and scope

The purpose of this chapter is to preserve the public health, safety and welfare within the city. It is the finding of this legislative body that pervasive bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, scooter, dockless vehicle, and skateboarding within the city presents a significant threat to the peace, health and safety of the community. For this reason, it is the intent of this legislative body to limit such activity. It is not the intent of this legislative body to limit the private enjoyment of such activity where it is safe to do so.

The provisions of this chapter do not prohibit the possession of bicycles, electric bicycles, motorized scooters, scooters, dockless vehicles, or skateboards if not ridden.

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the use of wheeled devices by physically disabled persons.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

"Bicycle"

means any device upon which a person may ride which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains or gears, and which has one or more wheels (California Vehicle Code Section 231 as it may be amended from time to time).

"Dockless vehicle"

means:

A.

Any wheeled device, other than an automobile or motorcycle, that is powered by a person or motor;

B.

Accessed via an on-demand portal, whether a smartphone application, membership card, or similar method;

C.

Owned by a private entity that owns, manages, and maintains devices for shared use by members of the public without a physical dispatching location within the City; and

D.

Available at unstaffed, self-service locations, to members of the public for their personal operation.

"Electric bicycle,"

as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 312.5 as it may be amended from time to time, means a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor that does not exceed 750 watts of power.

A.

A "class 1 electric bicycle," or "low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in Subsection D, that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour, and that is not capable of providing assistance to reach speeds greater than 20 miles per hour.

B.

A "class 2 electric bicycle," or "low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.

C.

A "class 3 electric bicycle," or "speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, that is not capable of exclusively propelling the bicycle, except as provided in Subsection D, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.

D.

A class 1 or class 3 electric bicycle may have start assistance or a walk mode that propels the electric bicycle on motor power alone, up to a maximum speed of 3.7 miles per hour.

"Expanded Civic Center"

means the areas of El Cajon City known as City Hall, East County Regional Center, East County Performing Arts Center, Library, Community Center and Fire Facility Headquarters Complex, more particularly described as follows:

"Motorized scooter" or "electric scooter,"

as defined by California Vehicle Code Section 407.5 as it may be amended from time to time, means:

A.

Any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, has either a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding or a seat and footrests in place of the floorboard, and is powered by an electric motor. This device may also be designed to be powered by human propulsion.

B.

A device meeting the definition in Subsection A that is powered by a source other than electrical power is also a motorized scooter.

"Public parking lot"

means any publicly owned, operated or maintained parking lot, parking facility, sidewalk, walkway, path, ramp, bridge, plaza, mall, trolley station, quadrangle or patio.

"Ride"

means move, not move, or travel at any speed while supported by a device.

"Scooter"

means a foot-operated vehicle consisting of a narrow board of wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass, or other material, and having two or more wheels tandem with an upright steering handle attached to the board or the front wheels.

"Skateboard"

means any toy or device upon which a person may ride standing or sitting, which coasts, glides, or is propelled by human power, which is a board or other surface mounted on one or more wheels.

"Skatepark"

means a facility owned, operated or managed by the city of El Cajon, designed specifically to accommodate skateboarding and in-line skating, where skating rules and hours are posted, and are specifically located at Kennedy Skatepark and Renette Plaza.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

Notwithstanding Chapter 2.56, it is unlawful for any person to ride a skateboard, scooter, electric bicycle, motorized scooter or dockless vehicle within any city park, any city playground, any public facility, or upon any public grounds in the Expanded Civic Center area or the public property between Main Street and Douglas Avenue, including that area commonly referred to as the Prescott Promenade. It is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle in the Expanded Civic Center area of the public property between Main Street and Douglas Avenue, including the area commonly referred to as the Prescott Promenade, unless upon a bike path, alley, street or highway.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A. The riding of any skateboard is prohibited upon or across any publicly owned, operated or maintained sidewalk, curb, bike path, alley, street or highway along:

1. Main Street from Chambers to Ballantyne Street; or

2. Magnolia Avenue from Lexington Avenue to Madison Avenue.

B. The riding of any skateboard is also prohibited upon or across any privately owned, operated or maintained parking lot, parking facility, sidewalk, walkway, path, ramp, bridge, plaza, mall, quadrangle or patio which is held open to the public and which has been posted to prohibit skateboarding.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A. No person shall use, remain in or enter any city operated skatepark facility during all closed hours specified in park regulations. A notice indicating time or period when the skatepark facility is closed shall be posted at the skatepark facility. Hours of operation for skatepark facilities are set forth in subsection H, herein.

B. No person shall ride a skateboard, bicycle, scooter or use in-line skates in the skatepark facilities except while wearing commercially manufactured helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.

C. No person shall use any city operated skatepark facility for any purpose other than skateboarding or inline skating, provided, however, that bicycles and scooters may be used in a city operated skatepark facility during such times, and subject to such limitations, designated by the department of recreation and clearly identified in appropriate notices posted at the city operated skatepark. Use of motorized vehicles or similar devices is specifically prohibited in any city operated skatepark facility.

D. No person shall skate or ride a bicycle or scooter in the parking lot, sidewalks, curbs, or entrance areas near the skatepark facility.

E. For purposes of this section, the term "skatepark facility at Kennedy Skatepark" shall mean the fence and the entire fenced area surrounding and including the skateboard bowls and street plaza area and the land adjacent to the skateboard bowls and street plaza area. The term "skatepark facility at Renette Plaza" shall mean the concrete features between the Renette Park outdoor basketball court and the recreation center building, and between the sidewalk and the Renette Park fence line, not to include the sidewalk and the play court (i.e. hopscotch, tetherball, ball wall area).

F. Park outdoor basketball court and the recreation center building, and between the sidewalk and the Renette Park fence line, not to include the sidewalk and the play court (i.e. hopscotch, tetherball, ball wall area).

G. This section does not apply to any duly authorized city employee while performing duties of their job.

H. Any person who violates this section is guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in Section 9.42.070 of this code. Each violation constitutes a separate offense and may be separately punished.

I. Hours of operation for the skatepark facility at Kennedy Park Skatepark, and for the skatepark facility at Renette Plaza, are as follows:

1. Kennedy Skatepark. Hours shall be as posted and shall vary seasonally. Skating is prohibited in the skatepark facility when the facility is locked, when posted "closed," or when the facility is otherwise scheduled for recreation service sponsored/approved activities.

2. Renette Multi-Purpose Court. Skating is prohibited between dusk/sundown and sunrise, or when the facility is otherwise scheduled for recreation service sponsored/approved activities.

(Ord. 4967 § 2, 2011; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person who is riding a skateboard, to fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians within or approaching the area.

B. It is unlawful for any person who is riding a skateboard, while upon a public street, including the sidewalk or alley, to interfere with the movement of vehicles thereon.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A. It is unlawful for any person to use, construct or place upon any public property a ramp, jump, platform, or similar device intended for use by a person riding a bicycle, skateboard, or similar wheeled device.

B. The costs incurred by the city in removing a ramp, jump, platform, or similar device placed contrary to this section shall be a charge imposed upon and payable by the individual violating this section. If the individual violating this section is a minor, then the charge shall be imposed against the individual's custodial parent, parents or guardians.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A. The provisions of Chapter 1.24 of this code shall apply to any violations of this chapter unless specified otherwise.

B. The City Manager may delegate authority for the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter to a park ranger, code enforcement officer, and/or law enforcement officer of the City, as applicable.

(Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)

A violation of this chapter is an infraction punishable by:

A. A fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars, for a first offense;

B. A fine not exceeding fifty dollars for a second violation of this chapter within one year; or

C. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars for a third and each additional violation of this chapter within one year.

(Ord. 5076 § 5, 2019; Ord. 5176, 5/12/2026)