Buena Park reconsiders e-bike sidewalk rules for youth riders

Buena Park officials are moving toward a possible change in city rules that would let riders under 18 use e-bikes on sidewalks under a 10 mile-per-hour limit while requiring them to yield to pedestrians, according to Voice of OC.

The proposal comes as Orange County cities take different approaches to e-bike use, with some adopting local rules aimed at reckless riding and others relying on broader statewide regulations.

The Buena Park City Council directed staff at its Tuesday meeting to develop ordinance language for a future vote, Voice of OC reported. The draft approach would set a 10 mile-per-hour sidewalk speed limit for riders under 18 and state that pedestrians have the right of way.

Buena Park currently bans electric mobility devices, including e-bikes, e-skateboards and motorized scooters, on city sidewalks, drains, fields, gyms, playgrounds and public property, according to Voice of OC. People under 18 may ride on sidewalks if they do not ride in an unsafe manner.

City rules also prohibit unsafe riding on roads, highways and bike paths, including swerving around traffic or pedestrians, riding against traffic or going faster than 25 miles per hour, Voice of OC reported.

“We decided to explore our capabilities of going faster,” Buena Park Councilmember Carlos Franco said at Tuesday’s meeting, according to Voice of OC. “And that’s what our youth is doing. That doesn’t change by generation. What we need to do is set some rules to keep them safe, and to keep pedestrians walking safely.”

Buena Park Police Department Sgt. Roger Plumlee said the 10 mile-per-hour proposal could help keep young riders off streets. “It gives them a little more speed so we’re not encouraging street use,” Plumlee said at the meeting, according to Voice of OC. He also said the department is working with school districts on education: “We’re working with educators who try to develop a plan to continue the education side, so we’re not strictly focused on enforcement,” Plumlee said.

Other OC cities have taken varied approaches, Voice of OC reported. Fullerton allows sidewalk riding with a 5 mile-per-hour limit, Anaheim allows it only in posted areas, Cypress refers to statewide regulations and La Palma bans e-motorized vehicles on sidewalks.

Buena Park Mayor Connor Traut said the city’s action could matter when people are hurt. “I see that the legal protections that this can have for folks that are injured, and the city’s taking an active role to protect future potential victims,” Traut said at Tuesday’s meeting, according to Voice of OC.