HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-06-16; E-Bike Safety Campaign (Districts - All); Williams, MickeyTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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Council Memorandum
June 16, 2022 0
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and; 1v1e bers of the City Council
From: Mickey Williams, Chief of Po ice/
Via: Scott Chadwick, City Marlage:"
Re: E-Bike Safety Campaign (Districts -All)
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2022074
This memorandum provides information related the Police Department's e-bike enforcement
efforts.
Background
On April 5, 2022, the City of Carlsbad adopted an ordinance requiring riders of e-bikes and other
motorized mobility devices to operate with due care. The ordinance became enforceable in May
2022. This was an effort to reduce the number of collisions involving bicycles and e-bikes within
the city.
Discussion
The Police Department began enforcing the new ordinance through education in May 2022. The
Police Department's education campaign one-bike safety included messages on social media,
collaborating with schools and parents, conducting patrols near schools, and implementing a
safety education program. The new safety education program gives e-bike safety violators an
option to complete a safety course in lieu of paying a fine after receiving a citation for a violation
of the municipal code ordinance. The violator may attend a safety course that is coordinated by_
the Police Department and provided by an instructor who is certified through the League of
American Bicyclists. Upon successful completion of the program, the Police Department is
notified, and the violator receives a certificate of completion.
Additionally, the Police Department conducted two television interviews with media channels on
May 11 and May 23 to discuss the new ordinance as well as the new safety education program.
On May 24, the Police Department attended a meeting that was hosted by the Carlsbad Unified
School District, Scripps Hospital, and the Office of 76th District Assembly Member Tasha Boerner
Horvath, to present information about the safety program as well.
During the month of May 2022, the Police Department logged 72 extra patrol enforcement
efforts in the downtown Village area and along the coast, and 37 extra patrol enforcement
efforts at schools within the city, for the purpose of encouraging bicycle safety and educating the
public about the new ordinance. Because it was intended to be an educational phase of the
Police Department
Administration
2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2100 t
Council Memo -eBike Safety Campaign (Districts -All)
June 16, 2022
Page 2
campaign, the Police Department did not issue written citations for the new ordinance, however
one citation was issued to a bicyclist for running a stop sign and one written warning was issued
for no helmet.
After a month of sharing the information about the new municipal code and diversion option, the
Police Department began issuing written warnings and citations for violations of the new
municipal code ordinance. In June 2022, the Police Department has logged 49 extra patrol
enforcement efforts in the downtown Village area and along the coast, and 42 extra patrol
enforcement efforts at schools within the city. As part of the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) grant,
police officers worked an additional 20.5 hours, specifically to enforce the new ordinance. As a
result of these efforts, the Police Department issued 21 citations and one written warning for
violations of the new municipal code section. The citations were all issued to e-bike violators
between the ages of 12 to 16 years. Of the citations issued, 17 were for not wearing a helmet,
two were for not stopping where required, and two were for riding on a sidewalk.
Next Steps
The Police Department will continue to utilize the OTS grant for bicycle safety patrols. The Police
Department will also collaborate with school staff and the community to identify opportunities
for additional engagement, and to identify education and enforcement opportunities at the
beginning of the new school year.
Additionally, a bicycle safety detail operation is planned for June 29, 2022, between the hours of
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. During this time, detectives from the Family Services and General Investigations
Division will concentrate their efforts where the Police Department frequently receives
complaints regarding safety and quality-of-life issues where juveniles are involved. Their goal will
be to offer education to the public, provide police presence to deter potential crimes, and issue
citations for safety violations as appropriate.
cc: Laura Rocha, Acting Assistant City Manager
Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Cindy Anderson, Senior Management Analyst