Committee Could Favor New E-Bike Rules, Dropping Registration Requirements

The Pasadena Municipal Services Committee will consider updating the city’s bicycle regulations Tuesday to include electric bikes and eliminate registration requirements.

The committee will meet at 4 p.m. at City Hall to discuss proposed changes to Title 10 of the Pasadena Municipal Code in order to bring local laws in line with state requirements.

Assembly Bill 1909, known as the OmniBike Bill, took effect in 2023 and changed how cities can regulate bicycles. The law expanded definitions of electric bicycles and prohibited cities from requiring bicycle licenses or registration.

In an Agenda Report for the committee, the Department of Transportation is recommending several key changes to the municipal code. The updates would define electric bicycles as a type of bicycle under California Vehicle Code. They would also remove all bicycle registration and licensing requirements.

The proposed changes include new speed limits for sidewalk riding. Cyclists would be limited to 10 mph on sidewalks and 5 mph when pedestrians are present.

Current city rules prohibit bicycling on sidewalks near churches, schools and public assembly places. The Transportation Department recommends removing those location-based restrictions. Instead, the city would focus on speed limits that account for pedestrian safety.

Electric bikes fall into three classes under state law. Class 1 and 2 e-bikes can reach 20 mph, while Class 3 models can go up to 28 mph. All must have motors under 750 watts.

Before the state law changed, Class 3 e-bikes were banned from bike lanes and multi-use paths. The new law eliminates that statewide ban but allows cities to pass local restrictions.

The report said the city’s Transportation Advisory Commission reviewed the proposed changes in May and June and supported updating bicycle definitions and removing registration requirements. It also backed the new sidewalk speed limits and safety conditions.

The report said the proposed ordinance supports city goals to reduce car dependency. It also aligns with General Plan policies that encourage walking, biking and transit use.

If the recommendation is approved, the City Attorney will draft the final ordinance within 60 days. The changes would not require environmental review under state law.

The amendments would have no fiscal impact on the city budget, the report said. Implementation costs are already covered in department operating budgets.