Riverside, CA Sends Proposed E-Bike Ordinance Back for More Review

Last Updated on September 23, 2026 by Kristina

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – September 23, 2026

Riverside’s proposed new rules for e-bikes and other electric-powered devices are heading back for more review after City Council members raised concerns about how broadly the ordinance could restrict where people ride. Riders comparing local requirements can also check Electric Bike Explorer’s State-by-State E-Bike Law Guide.

The Riverside City Council considered the proposal on September 22 but did not adopt it. Local meeting coverage reports that council members sent the ordinance to the city’s Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee for additional work. The proposal would add Section 10.65 to Title 10 of the Riverside Municipal Code to regulate what the city describes as “E-Conveyances” commonly referred to as e-bikes.

For riders, the most important point is that the proposed restrictions are not currently in effect.

Electric Bike Explorer readers can learn how Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3 e-bikes differ, and follow the latest Electric Bike News updates.

Current Status: The Riverside E-Bike Ordinance Is Still Under Review

As of September 23, Riverside has not enacted the proposed ordinance.

The proposal appeared on the City Council’s September 22 agenda as File No. 26-3215. The city’s official legislative record confirms that the ordinance was scheduled for consideration, while the Riverside Record reported after the meeting that the council unanimously referred it to the Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee for further review. Councilmember Philip Falcone was absent.

No new effective date has been announced.

That distinction matters because several of the restrictions discussed in the draft could significantly change where e-bikes and similar electric-powered devices may be operated within Riverside if a revised ordinance is eventually adopted.

What the Proposed Riverside E-Bike Rules Would Have Done

The proposal would create a new Riverside Municipal Code section regulating “e-conveyances,” a category intended to cover electric bicycles, motorized scooters and other electric-powered devices used to transport people, while excluding assistive mobility devices for people with disabilities.

According to the proposed ordinance and local reporting, the draft included provisions that would:

• Restrict riding on sidewalks, subject to exceptions in the proposed language.
• Prohibit covered devices in city parks under the version presented to the council.
• Prohibit riding on city trails under the version presented to the council.
• Require riders to dismount and walk covered devices through city-owned parking lots.
• Restrict off-highway electric motorcycles in public areas except locations designated for off-highway recreation or private property where the owner permits their use.
• Reinforce applicable helmet requirements for younger riders and other riders already covered by California helmet law.
• Require riders to obey applicable traffic rules.
• Restrict handheld phone use while operating an e-conveyance.
• Require appropriate lighting and reflectors for nighttime operation.
• Allow the city to use education, parental notification and other enforcement measures involving juvenile riders.
• Allow penalties or other consequences depending on the type of violation.

These provisions describe the proposal considered by Riverside officials. They should not be read as a list of new laws currently in force.

Santa Ana River Trail Language Became a Major Issue

One of the most significant concerns involved language that could have prohibited e-bikes on the Santa Ana River Trail.

Riverside identifies the Santa Ana River Trail as part of its off-street bicycle network. During the September 22 discussion, Councilmember Sean Mill said he wanted to make sure the city was not banning e-bikes from the river trail. Local reporting also indicated that Mill and Councilmember Chuck Conder viewed that outcome as unintended.

The draft’s broad trail language created a practical issue because Riverside trails do not all serve the same purpose. Some are primarily pedestrian or recreational routes, while others also function as important transportation corridors for bicyclists and e-bike riders.

The committee can now reconsider that language and determine whether certain trails should be exempted or treated differently.

Riverside Officials Point to Growing Safety Concerns

The proposed ordinance comes amid growing concern about injuries involving electric bicycles and other electric-powered devices in Riverside County.

Riverside University Health System reported 224 e-bike-related emergency department visits in 2023, 494 in 2024 and 958 in 2025. At least another 416 incidents had been reported during 2026 as of July 9.

The increase has been especially noticeable among younger riders. RUHS reported that emergency department visits involving riders ages 10 to 14 increased from 155 in 2024 to 339 in 2025. Visits among people ages 15 to 24 increased from 122 to 248 over the same period.

Local meeting coverage also reported that Riverside officials cited more than 200 documented complaints this year involving unsafe use of electric-powered devices, many involving young riders and activity around parks.

Those figures help explain why the city is considering additional rules, although injury statistics alone do not establish which specific ordinance provisions would be most effective at reducing injuries.

California Already Has Helmet Rules for E-Bike Riders

Some of the safety requirements discussed by Riverside overlap with existing California law.

California already requires bicycle and e-bike riders under age 18 to wear an approved helmet. State law also requires operators and passengers on Class 3 electric bicycles to wear helmets regardless of age.

That means Riverside would not be creating all of these helmet requirements from scratch. A local ordinance may instead reinforce existing state requirements while adding local enforcement or education provisions.

Riders can review Electric Bike Explorer’s e-bike rules of the road guide for more information about how state and local rules can overlap.

E-Bikes and E-Motos Are Not the Same Thing

The Riverside debate also highlights an important issue appearing in communities across California: electric bicycles, electric motorcycles and other high-powered electric devices can look similar while falling into very different legal categories.

Under California law, a legal electric bicycle must have operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts. Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3 e-bikes are further distinguished by how motor assistance operates and the speed at which that assistance stops.

High-powered electric motorcycles and off-highway electric motorcycles can fall under different rules involving licensing, registration, roadway access, helmets and where they may legally be operated.

That distinction matters when cities write local ordinances. Rules intended to address high-powered electric motorcycles or reckless riding can have broader consequences if definitions also capture ordinary electric bicycles used for commuting and recreation.

The August Crash Added Urgency to the Discussion

The council debate took place after an August 25 collision involving two 14-year-olds riding an e-scooter and an e-moto in Riverside.

Initial Riverside Police information reported that both teenagers suffered major injuries. During the September 22 council discussion, Detective Steven Espinosa said both teenagers had subsequently died, according to the Riverside Record.

City officials said work on additional regulations had begun before the crash, but the incident added urgency to the ongoing safety discussion.

The types of vehicles involved are important. Reporting identified them as an e-scooter and an e-moto rather than two conventional electric bicycles. That is another reason clear definitions matter when local governments develop electric-mobility rules.

Who Could Be Affected by a Revised Ordinance?

The final wording could affect several groups if Riverside eventually adopts new regulations.

Young riders and their parents could face additional education or enforcement requirements. Recreational riders could be affected by park and trail restrictions. Commuters using routes such as the Santa Ana River Trail could also be affected depending on which locations are ultimately included or exempted.

Owners of high-powered e-motos and other electric devices that do not qualify as conventional electric bicycles could face separate restrictions.

Exactly who will be affected will depend on the revised language that emerges from committee review.

What Happens Next?

According to post-meeting reporting, the proposed ordinance is heading to Riverside’s Safety, Wellness and Youth Committee for additional review.

The committee can reconsider the trail restrictions, exceptions, definitions, juvenile enforcement provisions and other language before any revised measure returns to the full City Council.

As of September 23, no final ordinance has been adopted and no effective date has been established. Riders should continue following existing California and Riverside rules rather than treating the September proposal as current law.

Electric Bike Explorer will update this story if Riverside releases revised ordinance language, schedules another council vote or adopts new rules.

📰 How This Story Was Verified

This report is based on available official documents, agency statements, meeting records, or other primary sources, with reliable reporting used for additional context. I clearly distinguish proposals from rules that have been finally approved or taken effect.

For this report, I reviewed the City of Riverside’s September 22 City Council agenda and legislative file, Riverside University Health System injury and safety information, current California e-bike law guidance, Riverside transportation information, and local reporting on the September 22 council discussion.

Sources

• City of Riverside – File No. 26-3215 and proposed e-conveyance ordinance
• City of Riverside – September 22, 2026 City Council meeting
• Riverside Record – Council sends e-bike ordinance for further review
• Riverside University Health System – E-bike injury data and safety guidance
• City of Riverside – Off-street bicycle paths and Santa Ana River Trail information
• California Highway Patrol – E-bikes, motorcycles and similar vehicles
• California Vehicle Code – Bicycle and electric bicycle helmet provisions