California Civil Grand Jury Reports:
The Marin County Grand Jury Recommends:
(a) Only people aged 16 or older may operate class 2 e-bikes.
(b) Operators of class 2 e-bikes must wear helmets.
(b) All passengers on class 2 e-bikes must wear helmets.
The Santa Barbara Civl Grand Jury Findings and Recommendations:
Finding 1: Since the City of Santa Barbara’s adoption of the new e-bike ordinance, Santa Barbara Police Department officers now have broad discretion in responding to unsafe behavior by e-bike riders, but, as a general principle, behavioral change requires a strategic and consistent approach.
Recommendation 1a: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council encourage the Santa Barbara Police Department to establish a plan to strategically and consistently focus enforcement efforts in high-traffic areasso as to achieve high visibility and have the greatest impact on behavior in enforcement operations. To be implemented by December 1, 2025.
Recommendation 1b: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council require the Santa Barbara Police Department to give the Council monthly reports on the number and severity of e-bike-involved accidents in the City of Santa Barbara, as well as the number of citations issued. To be implemented by December 1, 2025.
Recommendation 1c: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council make available to the public these monthly reports on the number and severity of e-bike-involved accidents in the City of Santa Barbara, as well as the number of citations issued. To be implemented by December 1, 2025.
Finding 2: The Santa Barbara City Council has tasked the Police Department and its officers with additional responsibilities related to enforcement of the new e-bike ordinance but has not provided additional funding to support those purposes.
Recommendation 2: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council conduct a study to determine how much new funding for this additional police work is needed. To be completed by April 1, 2026.
Finding 3: The City of Santa Barbara has initiated only a limited public information campaign about the new e-bike ordinance now in effect, thus limiting awareness of the ordinance.
Recommendation 3a: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council initiate an expanded and long-term public information campaign to inform and educate the public about the City’s new e-bike rules. To be implemented by December 1, 2025.
Recommendation 3b: The Grand Jury recommends that the Santa Barbara City Council invite the cooperation and participation of secondary schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, private organizations that are involved in e-bike education, neighboring cities including Goleta, and local businesses for expanded public outreach on e-bike safety and laws now in effect.
Finding 4: The Santa Barbara Police Department has recently expanded its outreach in Santa Barbara Unified School District to instruct students in e-bike safety and laws, which is a positive development.
