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The Livermore Police Department has managed an educational campaign in recent months regarding e-bikes, e-scooters and other two- and three-wheelers to gain community compliance with laws surrounding these vehicles.
Its work coincides with complaints about “reckless riders” as well as a rise of incidents involving electric motorcycles, especially among juveniles, according to LPD Capt. John Reynolds.
The department has sought to educate the public through work including direct contact with riders, its partnership with the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District as well as its participation in a public awareness day earlier this year.
“The police department continues to educate the community about e-bikes and e-scooters and off-highway motorcycles,” Reynolds told Livermore Vine in mid-July. “As we do so, we’re also transitioning into an enforcement period.”
Similar to law enforcement in other cities, LPD has received complaints about irresponsible ridership of e-bikes, e-scooters and off-highway motorcycles, particularly in shared spaces such as parks, walking and bike trails and downtown, Reynolds said.
“Typically, traffic-related trends begin with an educational and messaging component prior to enforcement to seek compliance from the community,” Reynolds explained.
In LPD’s quest for compliance, the agency has created and distributed an educational brochure to inform the public about road rules as they relate to e-bikes, e-scooters and off-highway motorcycles. It has been displayed by the Livermore Area Recreation and Park District, the Livermore Library and the Livermore Valley Chamber of Commerce, with additional postings in the downtown area.
According to the brochure, all classes of e-bikes may be ridden wherever traditional bicycles are permitted, no license required. Bicycle helmets are required for all e-bike riders under 18 years of age.
Differentiating Class 1 and 2 from Class 3 e-bikes is the maximum speed at which the motor will assist the rider, capped at 20 mph for the first two classes and 28 mph for the third class.
While there is no minimum age requirement to ride Class 1 and 2 e-bikes, riders of Class 3 must be aged 16 years or above.
As for e-bike incidents, they tend to stem from factors such as the riders’ lack of experience, inattention on the roadway, riskier riding behaviors and lack of helmet use, Reynolds said.
In terms of safety, LPD recommends using equipment including properly fitted helmets, lighting and reflective clothing as well as proper maintenance of one’s bike and riding responsibly. This means riding “predictably” on roadways shared with vehicles, signaling turns, avoiding abrupt movements, not riding on sidewalks where prohibited and yielding to pedestrians on shared paths, Reynolds said.
Also included in the pamphlet are motorized e-scooters, which require a driver’s license or instruction permit and the use of a bicycle helmet for riders under 18 years of age. They may be ridden at a maximum speed of 15 mph wherever traditional bicycles are allowed. But they may not be ridden on sidewalks.
Motorized bicycles and mopeds, which can reach a maximum speed of 30 mph, may be ridden on public and private roads but not sidewalks. Operating these vehicles requires a driver’s license with an M1 or M2 endorsement, registration with the California Department of Motor Vehicles, adequate vehicle insurance and use of a DOT-compliant helmet.
Standing apart from the rest, dirt bikes are not street legal. This means they cannot be ridden on any public roadway, sidewalk or park, Reynolds explained. Instead, dirt bikes may only be used on private property.
Dirt bike operation also requires valid registration with the DMV, a valid driver’s license with proper motorcycle endorsement, adequate insurance and helmet compliant with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Possible penalties for noncompliance include helmet citations, right of way citations for improper riding as well as VC citations for driving without a license and towing with a 30-day impound.
Whether LPD issues a citation for a riders’ violation depends on severity and whether the rider has a history of violations and relevant education, Reynolds said in mid-July.
But as the new school year approaches, the educational component of LPD’s work is the agency’s main focus, Reynolds explained.
In partnership with LVJUSD, LPD has distributed informational messaging to students and their families about riding rules and safety.
School Resource Officer staff are also preparing additional education regarding the rules of the road to coincide with the 2025-26 school year, Reynolds said.
“Teaching students safe practices for walking and wheeled travel is essential to ensuring the safety of both students and their families,” LVJUSD director of student services Tracie Christmas said.
The partnership also includes annual discussions about crossing guard placements across the city, Christmas said.
LVJUSD often shares LPD’s safety messages on its district social media, especially at the beginning of each school year, district spokesperson Michelle Dawson added.
LPD also joined law enforcement agencies from across the Tri-Valley May 21 for the Electric Bike Enforcement Day wherein agencies set out to enforce e-bike regulations, educate riders and reinforce the importance of safe riding, according to a social media post from host Dublin Police Services.
If one witnesses a potential violation on the streets, LPD recommends reporting the incident to the police department.
