DATE: January 14, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Police Department
TITLE: INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING OCEANSIDE CITY CODE CHAPTER 5 - BICYCLES AND MOBILITY DEVICES
RECOMMENDATION
title
Staff and the Police and Fire Commission recommend that the City Council introduce an Ordinance amending Chapter 5 of the Oceanside City Code to update enforcement provisions related to the unsafe operation of electric bicycles and mobility devices.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS[JB1][SG2][SG3][TV4][SG5]
Since the adoption of the current Chapter 5 regulations in March 2024, community complaints and police calls for service involving e-bikes-particularly those ridden recklessly, operated in prohibited areas, or used to carry unauthorized passengers-have continued to increase.
Oceanside Police Department data show a marked increase in e-bike-related calls for service:
Year
Calls for Service
Increase % From Prior Year
2021
69
-
2022
185
168%
2023
341
84%
2024
449
32%
2025
844* projected (758 as of 11/24/25) [TS6][SG7]
88%
This reflects a significant increase in e-bike-related calls for service from 2021 to 2025. A substantial portion of reported incidents involve younger riders [NC8]operating e-bikes in groups or in prohibited areas, creating safety hazards for pedestrians and other roadway users.
The City's 2024 ordinance created an education-first enforcement model through the addition of Section 5.17, allowing violations to be resolved through attendance at a bicycle safety course. Staff initially adopted an education-first approach with the new additions to the Municipal Code by issuing warnings and informing the public of the new ordinance when violations were observed. However, as complaints continued to rise, enforcement efforts commenced, and special details addressing these complaints were conducted. Since September of 2024, Staff has issued at least 135 citations for bicycle and e-bike related of...
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