Anaheim City Council members are considering revisions to municipal rules and police enforcement strategies regarding electric bicycles following a sharp rise in local rider injuries, as Voice of OC reported. At an Oct. 27 meeting, police leadership provided elected officials with an operational update on safety measures implemented under regulations initially approved by the city in 2024.
Statistics presented during the meeting highlight a significant escalation in local incident numbers. Anaheim Police Chief Manny Cid reported that electric bicycle collisions in the city rose from two incidents in 2024 to 16 in 2025, reaching 38 reported accidents so far in 2026. Despite this trend, departmental enforcement has remained light, with Cid stating that officers have issued approximately or fewer than 12 citations over the last couple of years while prioritizing youth and family education.
Council members expressed differing views on whether current educational efforts are sufficient to address public safety risks. Councilwoman Natalie Rubalcava, who is running for reelection, called for tracking issued warnings and urged the city to take larger-scale action. Rubalcava stated to Voice of OC that safety risks affect both riders and drivers who collide with them, noting that she prohibits her own children from using electric bikes due to safety concerns. She encouraged police to take a more proactive educational approach across all areas of the city.
Councilman Carlos Leon, who is running for reelection unopposed, inquired whether police had established a specific collision threshold that would trigger a shift toward stricter enforcement policies. Cid responded that the department will continue monitoring accident data and will return to the council with updated recommendations if collision trends persist upward. Cid cautioned that a heavy enforcement approach could create friction with parents whose collaboration the department seeks when addressing student transportation.
Mayor Ashleigh Aitken proposed requiring riders under 16 years of age to complete a safety training course and obtain a permit, an initiative police officials indicated they are currently exploring in coordination with local school districts. Aitken is currently seeking reelection while facing allegations regarding alcohol use at government functions and accusations of using derogatory language toward her Chief of Staff Berenice Ballinas. Aitken has denied using slurs while acknowledging struggles with alcoholism and attending rehabilitation, and the city has hired independent investigators to conduct a probe into the matter. The mayor's father, Wylie Aitken, chairs the board of directors for Voice of OC.
Councilwoman Natalie Meeks, also running unopposed for reelection, defended the educational model, noting its effectiveness in Anaheim Hills, the area she represents. Meeks differentiated standard electric bicycles from higher-speed electric motorcycles on public streets, emphasizing the need to teach riders personal responsibility and traffic laws.
The policy discussions in Anaheim align with broader regulatory efforts across Orange County, where multiple municipalities are updating local codes to address reckless riding, injuries, and related offenses. In Santa Ana, city officials voted to pass an ordinance that prohibits electric bicycles on public playgrounds, establishes local speed limits, permits police to impound bikes, and enables authorities to issue citations to parents of minor riders.
Simultaneously, the Lake Forest City Council is scheduled to consider a proposed ordinance on election night Tuesday that would authorize Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies to impound electric bicycles operated in restricted areas like playgrounds or those capable of reaching speeds of 28 miles per hour. Lake Forest officials are also evaluating an agreement with a private towing service to manage impounded bicycles at no taxpayer expense, requiring bicycle owners to pay towing fees directly to the contractor.
