Brentwood and Oakley City Councils Direct Staff to Draft Coordinated E-Bike Safety Ordinances

City council members in Brentwood and Oakley moved in tandem on Wednesday to establish standardized electric bicycle regulations across East Contra Costa County, directing municipal attorneys and police traffic divisions to draft enforceable local ordinances before the end of the fall semester. The coordinated legislative push responds to months of testimony from parents, trauma nurses, and pedestrian advocates regarding high-speed electric motorcycles and modified throttle bikes operating on neighborhood sidewalks and regional trails.

Under the policy framework reviewed at Brentwood City Hall on City Park Way and Oakley City Hall on Main Street, municipal staff will clearly distinguish state-classified Class 1 and Class 2 pedal-assist bicycles from higher-speed Class 3 models and unregistered off-road electric dirt bikes. The proposed rules establish a strict 15-mile-per-hour speed limit on paved multi-use paths including the Marsh Creek Regional Trail, prohibit motorized riding on downtown commercial sidewalks, and mandate passenger seating compliance.

Police chiefs from both municipalities emphasized that the ordinances prioritize education and juvenile diversion alongside targeted enforcement near Liberty Union High School District campuses. Officers plan to introduce a diversion option allowing first-time youth violators to complete a certified California Highway Patrol bicycle safety curriculum with a parent or guardian in lieu of administrative fines.

Draft ordinance language will return to both the Brentwood and Oakley city councils for formal first readings in November following technical consultation with East Bay Regional Park District rangers. Residents and cycling groups can submit written feedback to the Brentwood City Clerk at brentwoodca.gov or the Oakley City Clerk at oakleyca.gov ahead of next month's public hearings.