Voice of OC reported that city officials in Lake Forest introduced new e-bike regulations, featuring comprehensive impoundment policies designed to manage local transit concerns. The municipal actions follow an April collision involving an e-motorcycle that resulted in the death of Ed Ashman.
Mayor Robert Pequeño emphasized taking time to ensure legal compliance while developing the regulatory framework. Expanding on the operational details, Robert Bauman outlined three specific scenarios triggering e-bike confiscation under the newly introduced framework. Robert Bauman told Voice of OC, "The intended effect of this ordinance will be to create an additional enforcement mechanism to provide [Orange County Sheriff’s Department] with the ability to impound e-bikes and similar conveyances that are involved in significant disruption of public spaces,"
To govern day-to-day operation in public spaces, sidewalk speeds are limited to 5 mph, while general speed limits are capped at 10 mph across the municipality. Enforcement actions also carry financial penalties, noting that administrative fees issued by the sheriff department total $100.
When impoundments occur, Sea Country Towing was contracted by the city for towing services. The associated costs involve a structured fee schedule: tow fees are set at $312 per incident, daily storage fees cost $51, and after-hours release fees amount to $156. Addressing what happens to unretrieved property, Robert Bauman told Voice of OC: "Pursuant to state law, if property is unclaimed after 30 days, it’s considered abandoned, and the tow company essentially can then take ownership,"
Community members voiced their perspectives during the public proceedings. Reed Buck advocated for rider safety education during public comment. In addition, Sean Fletcher shared personal accounts of being struck by e-bikes, bringing resident experiences directly into the public record.
Summing up the municipal posture, Doug Cirbo described the city approach as deliberate, balancing public safety concerns with methodical administrative preparation.
