About Electric Bicycles

There are many bikes and electric bikes around town. Here is a Press Release from the RB Police Department about Electrical Bicycles – Education / Enforcement

The safety of people who use city roadways to walk or ride their bicycles is the primary concern of the Redondo Beach Police Department.

In early 2020, electric bike (E-Bikes) sales surged mainly due to COVID-19 and the need for people to escape lockdowns and spend more time outdoors. Due to their ease of use and convenience, the Redondo Beach Police Department has seen an increase in E-Bike- related accidents. In four months, the Redondo Beach Police Department has responded to eight traffic accidents involving bicyclists and motor vehicles.

According to the National Safety Council, “one-third of non-fatal bicyclist injuries are to the head. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), most of the 80,000 cycling-related head injuries treated in emergency rooms yearly are brain injuries.

The Redondo Beach Police Department encourages bicyclists and motorists to follow the below guidelines to promote safe behaviors by pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers by avoiding distractions like cell phones, looking for parked cars that may be pulling out or opening a door, and making yourself visible by wearing bright reflective clothing.

Drivers:  “Share the road” with bicyclists.

• Be courteous; California law mandates at least three feet of clearance when passing a bike rider.
• Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.
• Yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
• Be exceptionally watchful for riders when making turns, either left or right.
• It is unlawful to drive in a bike lane except for 200 feet before making a right or left turn.

Bicyclists:

• Wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. If you are under 18 years of age, it’s the law!
• A helmet is the most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.
• Riders are considered vehicle operators: they are required to obey the same road rules as other
• vehicle operators, including following traffic signs, signals, and lane markings.
• When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.
• Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored
• clothing during the day, at dawn and dusk.
• The law requires a front light and a red reflector for the rear to be noticed when riding at night.

We encourage the public to call the Redondo Beach Police Department Traffic Hotline at 310-937-6605 to report traffic concerns or issues related to bicyclists, drivers, or pedestrians. For additional information related to this issue, please contact Captain Jon Naylor at Jon.Naylor@Redondo.org.