These days the American River Parkway has become a second home of Sacramento County Regional Parks Ranger George Tzikas.”I love just coming out here,” said Tzikas. “I really like the people I encounter.”Tzikas became a Ranger in 2022. He says he has seen a noticeable shift on the 30-mile trail.”We’ve definitely started focusing more on the e-bikes,” he added. “They have become prevalent.”The speed limit on the parkway 15 miles per hour, but Tzikas says he’s seen e-bikes and e-motorcycles going much faster. He tells KCRA 3 that the rangers try to educate first before issuing any tickets. Last month, California’s attorney general issued an alert reminding everyone about the law when it comes to e-bikes.”We’re trying to adapt to the times and taking more enforcement,” Tzikas said.E-bikes come in three different classes, but the maximum speed any can go is 28 miles per hour.The statewide concern stems from the growing number of crashes. According to Data from CHP, e-bike accidents from 2018 to 2023 rose from 184 to 3,4000 annually.”On Amazon, it’s incredibly easy to purchase an electric motorcycle that is advertised as an electric bike when in fact it’s not even close,” Tzikas added.KCRA 3 Investigates reached out to Amazon about e-bikes boosting speeds higher than 40 miles per hour. A day later, the company stopped selling those bikes in California.Last week, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a set of ordinance changes recommended by Sacramento County Regional Parks designed to better protect park users, park and recreation facilities, and natural areas from the growing impacts of Class 3 e-bikes, e-motorcycles, dirt bikes, quads, and unauthorized trail building.The changes give Sacramento County Regional Parks and park rangers greater authority to enforce safety regulations, protect environmentally sensitive areas, stop illegal bike jumps and trails, and seek restitution for damage to park land and facilities. The ordinances also restrict unauthorized use of golf courses and sports complexes and allow violations to be treated as infractions or misdemeanors.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
These days the American River Parkway has become a second home of Sacramento County Regional Parks Ranger George Tzikas.
“I love just coming out here,” said Tzikas. “I really like the people I encounter.”
Tzikas became a Ranger in 2022. He says he has seen a noticeable shift on the 30-mile trail.
“We’ve definitely started focusing more on the e-bikes,” he added. “They have become prevalent.”
The speed limit on the parkway 15 miles per hour, but Tzikas says he’s seen e-bikes and e-motorcycles going much faster. He tells KCRA 3 that the rangers try to educate first before issuing any tickets.
Last month, California’s attorney general issued an alert reminding everyone about the law when it comes to e-bikes.
“We’re trying to adapt to the times and taking more enforcement,” Tzikas said.
E-bikes come in three different classes, but the maximum speed any can go is 28 miles per hour.
The statewide concern stems from the growing number of crashes. According to Data from CHP, e-bike accidents from 2018 to 2023 rose from 184 to 3,4000 annually.
“On Amazon, it’s incredibly easy to purchase an electric motorcycle that is advertised as an electric bike when in fact it’s not even close,” Tzikas added.
KCRA 3 Investigates reached out to Amazon about e-bikes boosting speeds higher than 40 miles per hour. A day later, the company stopped selling those bikes in California.
Last week, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a set of ordinance changes recommended by Sacramento County Regional Parks designed to better protect park users, park and recreation facilities, and natural areas from the growing impacts of Class 3 e-bikes, e-motorcycles, dirt bikes, quads, and unauthorized trail building.
The changes give Sacramento County Regional Parks and park rangers greater authority to enforce safety regulations, protect environmentally sensitive areas, stop illegal bike jumps and trails, and seek restitution for damage to park land and facilities. The ordinances also restrict unauthorized use of golf courses and sports complexes and allow violations to be treated as infractions or misdemeanors.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel | Make KCRA a preferred news source in Google