Chapter 12.40 — USE OF BICYCLES ON SIDEWALKS AND TRAILS

The board of supervisors finds that the unregulated use of electric bicycles, as defined in Vehicle Code Section 312.5, on sidewalks and trails within the county presents a health and/or safety hazard to pedestrians and those using non-motorized modes of transportation on county sidewalks and trails maintained for the public's benefit.

(Ord. No. 995, § 1, 5-20-2025)

The purpose of this chapter is to regulate the use of electric bicycles on sidewalks and trails within the county to the extent permitted by state law to protect the health, safety, and welfare of county residents on said sidewalks and trails.

(Ord. No. 995, § 2, 5-20-2025)

This chapter is adopted pursuant to Government Code Section 23004, which authorizes counties to manage County Property, as defined herein, pursuant to Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution which authorizes counties to make and enforce within their limits all local, police, sanitary and other ordinances and regulations not in conflict with general laws that serve to protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents; and pursuant to Vehicle Code Sections 21110, 21206, and 21207.5, which

authorize local agencies to regulate the use of bicycles on sidewalks, trails, and pedestrian facilities within the agency's jurisdiction.

(Ord. No. 995, § 3, 5-20-2025)

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

A.

"Board." The Board of Supervisors of the County of Riverside.

B.

"Bicycle." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 231 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

C.

"Bicycle path or bikeway." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, as may be amended from time to time.

D.

"Business district." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 235 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

E.

"County." The County of Riverside, any of its agencies, departments or any associated districts, and any officer or employee thereof.

F.

"County property." Real property, buildings and facilities owned, leased, subleased or otherwise licensed by or to the county, or real property subject to the use and control of the county, whether such property is within the unincorporated or incorporated territory of the county. County property includes real property in the possession of a public or private entity under contract with the county.

G.

"Electric bicycle." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 312.5 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time, as follows: An "electric bicycle" is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts.

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, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour.

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 twenty (20) miles per hour.

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, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer.

H.

"Equestrian trail." Shall mean any trail primarily designed to meet the requirements of horses and their riders. Pedestrians may use equestrian trails, but they are not the primary user for whom the trail is designed.

I.

"Motor-driven cycle." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 405 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

J.

"Motorized bicycle or moped." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 406 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

K.

"Pedestrian." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 467 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

L.

"Person." Any individual, partnership, corporation, joint venture, firm, company, association, group, body politic, or other entity, and any officer, employee, agent, trustee, assignee or other representative thereof.

M.

"Trails." Shall mean those described and established as Riders' and Hikers' Trails under Article 6 of Chapter 1 of Division V of the Public Resources Code (Section 5070 et seq.) and as defined in Section 831.4 of the Government Code.

N.

"Sidewalk." Shall have the same meaning as that set forth in Section 555 of the Vehicle Code, as may be amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 995, § 4, 5-20-2025)

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department shall have the primary responsibility for enforcing this chapter.

(Ord. No. 995, § 5, 5-20-2025)

Class 1 and 2 electric bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks and trails except as follows:

A.

No person shall ride Class 2 electric bicycles upon a sidewalk within any business district; upon the sidewalks of bridges; in pedestrian underpasses; on pedestrian overpasses; or upon sidewalks adjacent to any school building.

B.

No person shall ride Class 2 electric bicycles upon a sidewalk or trail in an area where riding a bicycle or unicycle is prohibited by ordinance and appropriate signage is posted advising of the prohibition.

C.

No person shall ride a Class 1 or 2 electric bicycle upon a sidewalk or trail where a bicycle path or bikeway is available on the same roadway or within the same public facility.

D.

Any person riding a Class 1 or 2 electric bicycle upon a sidewalk shall ride in the direction of travel in a safe manner with due care and caution, yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, and when overtaking and passing a pedestrian, shall give an audible signal and shall pass to the left of the pedestrian only under conditions permitting the safety of such movement. Any person riding an electric bicycle, upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk, shall yield to all traffic.

(Ord. No. 995, § 6, 5-20-2025)

Class 3 electric bicycles, motor-driven cycles, mopeds, and motorized bicycles that are not classified as Class 1 or 2 electric bicycles are prohibited from being ridden on all sidewalks and trails unless posted signage specifically allows for such use.

(Ord. No. 995, § 7, 5-20-2025)

in equestrian districts and on equestrian trails.

The operation of electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, mopeds, and motor-driven cycles is prohibited on equestrian trails within the County of Riverside, and on any trail within any Wine Country - Equestrian District, as defined in Riverside County Ordinance No. 927.

(Ord. No. 995, § 8, 5-20-2025)

The operation of electric bicycles, motorized bicycles, mopeds, and motor-driven cycles is prohibited on any surface not intended for the use of bicycles or motor vehicles, including, but not limited to the interiors of public facilities, landscaped public spaces, planters, and park spaces other than trails where uses is authorized.

(Ord. No. 995, § 9, 5-20-2025)

Any person convicted of violating this chapter shall be: (1) guilty of an infraction offense and punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation; (2) guilty of an infraction offense and punished by a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation within one year of the first violation; and (3) guilty of an infraction offense and punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for a third violation within one year of the first violation. The penalties herein are in addition to any other remedies provided by law.

(Ord. No. 995, § 10, 5-20-2025)

If any provision, clause, sentence or paragraph of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstances shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end, the provisions of this chapter are hereby declared to be severable.

(Ord. No. 995, § 11, 5-20-2025)