The city of Winters is cracking down on e-bikes with stricter regulations on where they can be ridden.<\/p>\n
This comes after the city received a lot of complaints about e-bike use on city streets and sidewalks.<\/p>\n
“They’re not good on the sidewalks and they’re not good on the road,” said Erica Morton, a Winters resident.<\/p>\n
Starting Thursday, riders will not be allowed to ride e-bikes on sidewalks, in city parks, playgrounds, schools and the creek walk. <\/p>\n
They’re also banned from city streets that are closed to traffic for special events. The new rules also apply to e-scooters and similar electric vehicles.<\/p>\n
In addition, riders are not allowed to use their phones or wear headphones that block out surrounding traffic. <\/p>\n
Police say it all comes down to safety and they want to stay ahead of serious crashes before they happen.<\/p>\n
“Thankfully, we haven’t had any serious instances here in Winters, but there’s been very serious instances in neighboring communities such as Davis,” said Davis Police Chief John Miller.<\/p>\n
For now, citations will be up to $50 for a first violation. In some cases, police can also impound the vehicle. <\/p>\n
But Miller wants to remind parents that they could also be held responsible for their children’s behavior.<\/p>\n
“We’re formally admonishing the parents; they could be held civilly or criminally responsible,” Miller said.<\/p>\n
Still, some worry the new rules don’t fully address safety now that riders are being pushed onto the streets.<\/p>\n
“What is the best solution? We haven’t gotten there yet,” Morton said.<\/p>\n
Miller also said he’s been working with the school district on e-bike safety. Last year, the district banned e-bikes from school property, which he said has already helped decrease the amount of reckless riding around school grounds.<\/p>\n