With 48 rider contacts and 14 citations already this summer, police remind families to know the rules for e-bikes, e-scooters and electric motorcycles
With students back in school and more young riders using e-bikes to get to class, meet friends and travel around Folsom, an enforcement effort that has already resulted in dozens of rider contacts and 14 citations this summer is is continuing, now with a back-to-school focus.
Folsom Police have been conducting targeted operations involving e-bikes and electric motorcycles on city streets, sidewalks and multi-use trails, combining enforcement with education for riders and parents. The department has made 48 rider contacts and issued 14 citations during its summer enforcement efforts, while multiple illegally operated electric motorcycles have been towed.
Now, with school back in session, police are again reminding families to understand exactly what young riders are taking onto Folsom’s streets and trails — because an e-bike, e-scooter and electric motorcycle can look similar but are treated very differently under California law.
“The Folsom Police Department recognizes that e-conveyances have become an increasingly popular and convenient mode of transportation, particularly among our youth,” Folsom Police Lt. Lou Wright shared with Folsom Times. “Our goal is not to discourage their use, but to ensure they are operated safely, legally, and responsibly.”
The local message coincides with a back-to-school safety reminder issued this week by Sacramento County Regional Parks, which also expects an increase in children and teenagers riding bicycles and e-bikes as students return to school. County officials are asking young riders and their parents to review the rules governing different types of electric bikes and where they can legally be operated.
Folsom Police began targeted summer enforcement before students returned to classrooms.
During one operation in July, a coordinated team of officers used marked and unmarked patrol vehicles along with a department drone to identify violations involving e-bikes and electric motorcycles. Officers voluntarily contacted and educated 19 riders about California e-bike laws and safe riding practices, issued eight citations and towed two illegally operated electric motorcycles.
Two of those citations involved operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
Police continued enforcement later in July, bringing the summer totals to 48 rider contacts and 14 citations. Officers have also contacted parents in connection with violations involving juvenile riders.
The towing of an electric motorcycle can carry a financial consequence beyond a citation. Police have warned that towing, storage and administrative recovery costs can exceed $500 before an impounded vehicle is returned.
The department has focused some of its enforcement in areas where complaints have been reported, including around Palladio and on local trails.
“Through a balanced approach of education, community outreach, and enforcement, we are working to reduce collisions, prevent injuries, and promote compliance with the California Vehicle Code,” Wright said. “Ultimately, our priority is to protect everyone who uses our roadways and trails, whether they are riding, walking, or driving, and working to ensure that every rider, pedestrian, and driver arrives home safely.”
Not everything electric is an e-bike
One of the central messages from police is for parents and riders to know what type of vehicle they have before it is taken onto a public street, sidewalk or trail.
California recognizes three classes of electric bicycles.
Class 1 e-bikes provide electric assistance only while the rider is pedaling and have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
Class 2 e-bikes can use a throttle to propel the bicycle without pedaling and also have a maximum assisted speed of 20 mph.
Class 3 e-bikes provide electric assistance while the rider pedals and can assist up to 28 mph. Riders must be at least 16 to operate a Class 3 e-bike, and helmets are required.
For Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes, riders younger than 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet when riding on public roads, bikeways or public bicycle paths and trails.
The distinction becomes especially important with the increasingly common electric motorcycles, sometimes referred to as e-motos.
Despite their appearance, these vehicles do not necessarily qualify as e-bikes under California law. Sacramento County offers parents a simple rule of thumb: If it doesn’t have fully operable pedals, it isn’t an e-bike.
Folsom Police advises that electric motorcycles require DMV registration and a Department of Transportation-approved helmet. They are for off-road use only unless the vehicle is street legal and has a license plate. Electric motorcycles are not permitted on bike trails.
That distinction has been at the center of several Folsom enforcement cases.
In July, Folsom Police impounded an off-highway electric motorcycle during an investigation into the vandalism of a vehicle windshield at Palladio. Police said that type of vehicle could not legally be operated on public streets, sidewalks, bike paths or other public pathways.
Police have repeatedly encouraged parents to understand what they are purchasing or allowing their children to ride, including whether the vehicle is legally considered a bicycle or a motor vehicle.
E-scooters have their own rules
E-scooters are also part of the city’s back-to-school safety message, but they operate under a different set of requirements.
According to Folsom Police, e-scooter riders must be at least 16 and have either a valid instruction permit or driver’s license. The maximum speed is 15 mph, passengers are not permitted and e-scooters cannot be ridden on sidewalks.
The same basic traffic expectations apply when students use e-bikes and other permitted electric transportation to travel to school. Riders need to obey applicable traffic laws and remain aware of motorists, pedestrians and other cyclists sharing the roadway.
Different rules apply on regional trails
Sacramento County Regional Parks is placing particular emphasis on trail rules as young riders return to school.
The Jedediah Smith Memorial Multi-use Trail along the American River Parkway is shared by cyclists, pedestrians, runners, skaters and equestrians, making speed and awareness important regardless of what type of bicycle someone is riding.
Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes may be used on the Parkway, but all cyclists are subject to the trail’s 15 mph speed limit. A Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike capable of reaching 20 mph must still remain at or below 15 mph while on the Parkway.
Class 3 e-bikes are not permitted in Sacramento County Regional Parks facilities, including the American River Parkway and Dry Creek Parkway trails. Electric motorcycles and other motorized vehicles are also prohibited on Regional Parks trails and park facilities.
County officials remind cyclists to pass on the left and give a verbal warning before passing another trail user, ride single file, remain alert and pull completely off the trail when stopping.
Riders should stay on permitted trails and use lights when riding after dark.
“E-bikes can be a great way for young people to get around and enjoy the outdoors, but with that freedom comes responsibility,” Sacramento County Regional Parks Director Liz Bellas said. “We want young riders and their families to enjoy our trails while making smart choices that keep themselves and everyone around them safe.”
Police ask residents to report unsafe riding, not intervene
Folsom Police is also asking residents who witness dangerous or reckless riding to report the activity rather than trying to stop riders themselves.
The department advises residents not to chase a rider and not to engage or confront someone who is riding recklessly.
Instead, witnesses can note information that may help officers, including the direction of travel, location and time of the incident, clothing or distinguishing features and the number of riders involved.
Police say photos or video may also be helpful, but only when they can be recorded safely. Residents should not put themselves or anyone else at risk to capture evidence.
Non-emergency incidents can be reported to the Folsom Police Department at 916-355-7230. Photos or videos documenting suspected illegal activity can be submitted to fpdtraffic@folsom.ca.us. If there is an immediate danger or emergency, residents should call 911.
For families, police and regional officials are using the return to school as another opportunity to review the rules before young riders head out. That includes knowing whether the vehicle is a Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 e-bike, an e-scooter or an electric motorcycle; whether the rider meets applicable age and licensing requirements; and whether the vehicle is permitted on the street or trail where it will be used.
Additional information about e-bikes, e-scooters and other electric vehicles is available through the City of Folsom’s e-bike and e-scooter information page.
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