Thousand Oaks steps up e-bike enforcement amid safety concerns

Riders in Newbury Park are feeling the effects of what Thousand Oaks Police Chief Jeremy Paris calls "heavy enforcement" of e-bike and e-motorcycle rules, as the city ramps up special operations aimed at illegal riding, unsafe speeds and vandalism.

The most recent local push came Aug. 21, when the Thousand Oaks Police Department ran an e-bike safety and enforcement operation in the Newbury Park area. According to the Thousand Oaks Acorn (Newbury Park), the operation resulted in five illegal e-bikes and e-motorcycles being impounded and nine citations issued.

The violations cited included riding without a helmet, modifying an e-bike, traveling at an unsafe speed and failing to yield to vehicles or pedestrians.

Why Newbury Park Is a Focus

Newbury Park has been a particular sore spot in the e-bike debate. In March, Conejo Recreation and Park District officials said two of the community's most heavily used parks — Dos Vientos Community Park and Borchard Community Park — had incurred roughly $50,000 in combined damage from what the district described as "improper e-bike use."

For a district that maintains fields, trails and playgrounds used by youth sports leagues and families across Newbury Park, that level of damage has real budget consequences. Money spent repairing turf and facilities is money not available for programming and maintenance elsewhere.

The police department says its enforcement efforts are intended to reduce the risk of unnecessary injuries from traffic collisions and unsafe riding practices — a concern that has grown alongside the popularity of e-bikes among students and teens in the Conejo Valley.

What Police Are Targeting

Paris told the Acorn the priority isn't the average commuter or student on a pedal-assist bike. "We're really focused on the illegal e-motorcycles that go at high speeds and have lots of power," he said. "Our main focus is trying to deal with illegal off-road e-motorcycles."

The department has been conducting special operations since January, averaging one to two per month, and impounds three to four bikes per week, according to the chief.

Under California law, e-bikes fall into three classes. Class 1 bikes are pedal-assist only, with the motor cutting out at 20 mph. Class 2 bikes have a throttle and can be powered without pedaling, also up to 20 mph. Class 3 bikes are pedal-assist up to 28 mph and require a rider to be at least 16 years old.

The enforcement problem, police say, is largely with riders who modify their e-bikes to exceed those limits — effectively turning them into unlicensed, unregistered motorcycles.

A Patchwork Paris Doesn't Want to Widen

One reason the city hasn't moved to draft its own local e-bike ordinance: Thousand Oaks borders Los Angeles County, and Paris said he'd rather wait for comprehensive statewide legislation than create rules that catch riders in a trap the moment they cross a city line.

"I don't want somebody riding from Westlake Village into the city of Thousand Oaks, and then all of a sudden they're in violation of something they weren't in their own town," he said, according to the Acorn.

State lawmakers are currently weighing several e-bike bills in Sacramento:

• AB 1942 would require Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes to be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and display special license plates.
• AB 1557 would lower the assisted speed limit for Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes from 20 mph to 16 mph.
• AB 2346 would allow municipalities to set their own speed limits on bike paths and trails.
• SB 1167 would clarify the legal distinctions among electric bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles.

If passed, any of these measures could change what's legal on Newbury Park's streets and trails — and could give the city new tools that align with neighboring jurisdictions.

What It Means for Residents

For most Newbury Park families, the practical takeaways are straightforward: riders under 18 must wear helmets, modified e-bikes that exceed class speed limits are subject to impoundment, and enforcement is now regular rather than occasional. Parents of students who ride to Newbury Park schools may want to confirm their child's bike is unmodified and class-compliant, since impounded bikes and citations carry real costs.

Funding for the enforcement effort came from a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meaning the operations aren't drawing on the city's general fund.

As e-bikes have become more widely available, cities across California have moved to restrict who can buy and ride them and where they can be ridden, with rules varying based on motor power and speed. For now, Thousand Oaks is leaning on enforcement of existing state law — roughly one to two operations a month — while waiting to see what Sacramento delivers.

Residents who use Dos Vientos and Borchard parks, meanwhile, have a direct stake in the outcome: the district's $50,000 damage estimate suggests that improper riding isn't just a traffic issue but a facilities issue too, one that affects the parks that anchor youth sports and community life in Newbury Park.

Watch for movement on the state legislation in the coming months. If AB 2346 or the registration proposals advance, expect the City Council and the police department to revisit how — and whether — local rules should follow.