Electric bikes and scooters are officially persona non grata on the Long Beach boardwalk, where a new ordinance now makes riding an e-bike on the promenade punishable by fines of up to $500 or as much as 15 days in jail.
The City Council signed off on the change at its June 2 meeting, with officials saying they want to get ahead of fast, erratic riding before the summer crowds really pack in. The municipal code amendment folds electric bicycles and electric scooters into a long-standing list of vehicles barred from sidewalks, beaches and the boardwalk, and it authorizes penalties ranging from $50 to $500, or up to 15 days' imprisonment, for violations. Police can also impound devices that block access points. According to the city's City Council agenda, the ordinance takes effect immediately and tightens rules on where bicycles and micromobility gear can be stored, while letting the city manager post signs marking restricted streets.
"What we've been seeing, and we've been receiving numerous complaints of people riding erratically with e-bikes, with motorized bicycles on the boardwalk," Long Beach Acting Police Commissioner Richard DePalma told reporters. He said officers will focus on educating riders for the first week or two before they start writing tickets. DePalma also stressed that devices protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act are not the focus of enforcement, framing the new rules as an effort to keep beachgoers safe without cutting off access for people who rely on mobility aids. CBS New York
Down on the boardwalk, the reaction has been split. Some residents and business owners say the city is simply catching up to reality. Others worry the crackdown could go too far. "Keeping e-bikes off the boardwalk, anything that's gonna go over 20 mph, with some weight behind it ... is dangerous," said Michael Hammer, who owns a local bike shop. Even with the new restrictions, traditional pedal-only bicycles will still be allowed in the center lane of the boardwalk. City Council agenda
A Deadly Collision And Rising Complaints
Supporters of the ordinance repeatedly pointed back to a deadly collision in April 2025 involving an e-bike, which left a Long Beach pedestrian with fatal injuries. That crash, documented by local reporters at the time, kept coming up during the council's debate as a stark example of how bad things can get when bikes and pedestrians mix at high speed. Daily Voice
How Enforcement Will Work
The ordinance lays out a clear playbook for enforcement. Officers are authorized to remove and impound bicycles, e-bikes and scooters that block pedestrian flow or are left where they are not allowed. Bicycle parking along the north side of the boardwalk is permitted only when it does not obstruct entrances, exits or ramps. The city manager can post signs to mark restricted streets and pathways, and violations can bring fines, jail time or both. The full amendment text and enforcement details are included in the council's agenda packet. City Council agenda
For riders, the rule of thumb is pretty simple: pedal-only bikes can still roll through the boardwalk's center lane, but anything that moves on a motor is now supposed to stay off the promenade. City officials say the first weeks will lean heavily on education and new signage, with tougher citation and enforcement to follow if risky riding does not ease up.
Officials also say they will monitor how the rollout goes and tweak outreach or signs as needed over the summer. Residents who want the fine print can contact City Hall or check the municipal code and the council agenda for the full ordinance language and the complete fine schedule.
