E-Bikes Are Changing How Simi Valley Moves. Here’s How the City Plans to Address Safety Concerns

(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Videos and posts circulating in local social media groups often show the same scenes: kids riding fast electric bikes through neighborhoods, teens weaving through sidewalks or cutting across park trails where pedestrians are walking dogs or pushing strollers.

Most rides end without incident. But when riders ignore basic rules or push the limits of their machines, residents say the situation can quickly become a safety concern.

The Simi Valley City Council recently voted unanimously to introduce an ordinance aimed at bringing the city’s bicycle rules up to date as electric bikes and similar devices become more common. The vote approved the first reading of an ordinance that updates the municipal code to include electric bicycles, scooters and similar devices. 

The goal is to clarify how those devices should be used on sidewalks, shared paths and other pedestrian areas.

City leaders say the current code was written before e-bikes became widespread and does not clearly address the speed and power of today’s devices.

During public comment, Eliza Nichols, a community safety advocate who previously served for 13 years as a board member with the nonprofit Not One More, told the council she appreciates the city taking the issue seriously. Nichols now runs the nonprofit It Needs to End, which focuses on safety and community education, including programs addressing e-bike use among young riders.

She told council members that some of the behaviors the ordinance seeks to address are already illegal under existing rules and said enforcement should remain a priority. Nichols also questioned the reliance on an online safety course as part of the enforcement process, saying it may not be enough to ensure riders understand the rules. Police officials responded that education is meant to complement enforcement, not replace it.

SVPD Sgt. Joshua McAlister and Cmdr. Darin Muehler presented data showing why the issue has become a growing concern. From January 2021 through the end of 2025, Simi Valley recorded 141 collisions involving bicycles or electric bicycles, including six fatal crashes. Of those incidents, 131 involved injuries, with 135 people hurt overall. Police said investigators found that in many cases the rider was at fault, often because basic traffic rules were not being followed.

The ordinance under consideration adds definitions and operating standards that were missing from the city’s bicycle code. Under California law, electric bicycles fall into three classes. Class 1 bikes assist only while the rider is pedaling and stop assisting at 20 miles per hour. Class 2 bikes can move using a throttle without pedaling, also up to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 bikes assist while pedaling but can reach speeds of 28 miles per hour. State law requires riders of Class 3 bikes to be at least 16 years old and wear helmets.

The updated city ordinance aligns Simi Valley’s code with those state definitions while also defining unsafe riding behavior, which can include traveling too fast for conditions, failing to yield to pedestrians, performing stunts or ignoring posted signs.

Police emphasized that enforcement will focus on education first. 

“At the end of the day, what we’re not trying to do is penalize people with fines and fees. We’re really trying to get voluntary compliance,” Police Chief Steve Shorts told the council. 

Officers often begin with warnings, especially when minors are involved, and may contact parents at the scene. Continued violations can lead to citations and, in some cases, impoundment of the device. Shorts noted that retrieving an impounded electric bike can be expensive because of towing and storage fees.

The council spent considerable time discussing how sidewalks should factor into the rules. 

Councilmember Mike Judge said electric bikes pose a different risk than traditional bicycles when ridden near pedestrians. “I don’t think there should be any exemption for the electric bikes… because they are a danger to pedestrians on the sidewalk,” Judge said.

Other council members felt the issue deserved a more nuanced approach. 

Councilmember Elaine Litster pointed out that there are places in the city where riding in the street can feel unsafe, which is why some cyclists occasionally use sidewalks. 

“I don’t know that we should be so heavy-handed,” she said. 

Councilmember Rocky Rhodes echoed the need for clarity so residents and officers alike understand exactly what is allowed.

Part of the discussion centered on the city’s existing rule tied to 20-inch wheel size, which allows certain smaller bicycles on sidewalks. Bikes with wheels around that size are commonly seen on BMX-style bikes, while many mountain and road bikes use larger wheels.

Shorts also cautioned the council that state law governing electric bikes continues to evolve. 

“I believe there’s going to be some more flow of e-bike legislation coming through within the year,” he said, adding that cities must ensure local rules remain consistent with the California Vehicle Code. “The city can’t write something that supplants that,” he said.

Councilmember Joseph Ayala urged the city to make helmet safety a central part of both the ordinance and its public education efforts. “The helmet is the most important thing for these kids,” Ayala said.

As the ordinance moves toward a final vote, questions being asked on Nextdoor and neighborhood social media groups point to a broader conversation happening across the country: why are parents buying these devices for their kids in the first place, and what are they doing to make sure those rides stay safe?

Research offers some insight. E-bikes are filling a transportation gap for adolescents because most states do not require a license to ride one, the cost is far less than a car, and insurance is not needed, according to Children’s Hospital of Orange County. For kids not yet old enough to drive, e-bikes also offer a degree of independence and the freedom to ride with friends.

But the purchasing decision does not always come with a full understanding of what parents are actually buying. The word “e-bike” is often used as a generic term for any two-wheeled electric vehicle, which can include fast, powerful devices that are in fact electric mopeds or motorcycles requiring a license to operate legally, according to Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

According to a survey of more than 1,000 parents by Brumley Law Firm, the average parent felt 14 was the most appropriate minimum age for a child to get a first e-bike, while 64 percent said they would consider buying one before their child turns 18. Still, about 22 percent believed e-bikes were entirely inappropriate for minors.

Safety perceptions also varied. When comparing e-bikes to regular bikes, 43 percent of parents surveyed considered them equally safe, while 17 percent believed e-bikes were actually safer, according to Brumley Law Firm.

Buying the bike, though, is only part of the equation. Advocacy groups and safety researchers consistently point to the same baseline: know the class of bike your child is riding, make sure the helmet fits and have a clear conversation about the rules before the first ride.