Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 8.32 Bicycles and Electric Mobility Devices

Editor's note— Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), adopted July 8, 2025, repealed and readopted Ch. 8.32 to read as set out herein. Former Ch. 8.32, §§ 8.32.010—8.32.070 pertained to bicycles and derived from Prior Code §§ 3-4.01—3-4.07.

"Bicycle" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 231, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Electric bicycle" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Electric personal assistive mobility device" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Electrically motorized boards" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Helmet" means a bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

"Low speed vehicle" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 385.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Motorized scooter" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 407.5, as it may be amended from time to time.

"Operator" means a person who owns, operates, and/or controls a regulated mobility device.

"Pedestrian path" means any publicly owned path for the exclusive use of pedestrians.

"Regulated mobility device" means an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle, motorized scooter, and any other similar vehicle.

"Rider" means a traveler riding in or on a regulated mobility device who is not operating it.

"Vehicle" has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 670, as it may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

A.

In addition to the restrictions imposed by this chapter, every person riding or operating a bicycle or regulated mobility device within the City of Los Altos shall exercise all due care and reduce the speed of the device, obey all traffic control devices, and take all other action relating to operation of the device as necessary to safeguard the operator, passengers, and any persons or other vehicles or devices in the immediate area. All persons must comply with all State laws pertaining to the equipping of and operation of bicycles and regulated mobility devices, particularly those sections of the California Vehicle Code pertaining to obedience to traffic officers and firefighters, accidents and accident reports, and all rules of the road.

B.

It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or operate a bicycle or regulated mobility device in violation of any of the provisions of the California Vehicle Code or this.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

No person shall ride or operate a bicycle or regulated mobility device on any sidewalk or pedestrian path in the City of Los Altos, except as specifically permitted in this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

Persons riding or operating bicycles or regulated mobility devices on a public highway, street, bicycle lane, and/or pedestrian path shall not ride more than two abreast.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

A helmet that meets the definition of this chapter shall always be required for all persons seventeen (17) years of age and younger while riding a bicycle or electric mobility device within the City of Los Altos.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

No person riding or operating a bicycle or regulated mobility device upon a public highway, street, sidewalk, pathway, as may be specifically permitted in this chapter, shall perform, or attempt to perform,

any acrobatics, trick, or stunt.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

The number of riders on a bicycle and electric mobility devices shall not exceed one, unless the bicycle or motorized scooter is specifically designed for multiple riders by the manufacturer.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

A.

Penalties for violations. Any penalties for violations of this chapter may be processed as an infraction.

The penalty for a first violation of this chapter is fifty dollars ($50.00).

The penalty for a second violation of this chapter is seventy-five dollars ($75.00).

The penalty for a third violation of this chapter is one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

Businesses within the City of Los Altos that sell, rent, or service bicycles and electric mobility devices shall provide safety information and the legal use of such devices within the State of California and the City of Los Altos. This information shall be provided at the time of sale, time of rental, or upon the request of any individual.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)

A.

Public agency personnel. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or any other section of this Code, City of Los Altos and public agency personnel may operate regulated mobility devices or other vehicles at any place in the City of Los Altos in the performance of their official duties.

B.

Disability. This chapter does not apply to, or otherwise restrict, regulated mobility devices used safely by physically disabled persons as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act.

C.

Any individual may operate a bicycle on the sidewalk if riding the bicycle on the street or designated bicycle lane would place that individual in an unsafe situation. When utilizing the sidewalk to avoid hazards, the bicyclists must operate in a single file under the provisions of this section.

D.

Examples of hazards that qualify a bicycle to utilize the sidewalk under this ordinance are listed below:

The road is less than eleven (11) feet in width without a designated bicycle lane.

Debris is blocking a dedicated bicycle lane, and riding on the sidewalk is the only means of getting around the hazard.

Vehicles are parked in the bicycle lane or utilizing it for turning movements at an intersection.

The condition of the road has deteriorated to the point where it is unsafe for a bicycle to traverse through the area.

Include traffic as a cause, such as traffic congestion and/or circulation issues, or other similar road conditions creating a traffic safety concern.

E.

This section shall not apply to members of the Los Altos Police Department while engaged in their official duties.

(Ord. No. 2025-537, § 1(App. A), 7-8-2025)