Folsom riders face fines up to $500 and new speed limits on bike paths and in parks under an e-bike ordinance the City Council approved Tuesday, Oct. 27.
The rules, first reported by ABC10's Robbie Reynold, set a tiered fine structure: $100 for a first offense, $250 for a second and $500 for any violation after that. Parents would be responsible for citations issued to minors.
The ordinance also caps e-bike speeds at 15 mph on bike paths and 10 mph on paths in certain parks. City officials would have the authority to ban e-bikes outright in specific parks, though the ordinance does not name which parks could face restrictions.
As we reported Oct. 27, the council had been weighing the regulations after two months of public meetings and discussions. Folsom Police Department representatives told the council they have seen a significant increase in calls related to e-bikes on roads, parking lots and city parks, according to ABC10. Council members and community members also cited sports fields being ridden on and damaged.
Commander Andrew Bates of the Folsom Police Department said the ordinance was written to balance competing demands. "Some citizens want the E-bikes outright banned in parks. Some of them just want the problematic behavior addressed," Bates told the council, according to ABC10. "And so in order to do that, we've written an ordinance that offers that flexibility."
The meeting grew heated at times as members debated what exact regulations should be in place. The council indicated it could make further changes to the ordinance down the road.
Mayor Justin Raithel acknowledged the rules may not be perfect on the first pass but said there was broad support for moving forward, according to ABC10.
The ordinance still requires a second reading before it takes effect. The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10.
