The City Council finds that the unsafe operation of regulated mobility devices on all public property and private property open to the public for pedestrian travel poses a significant risk to the safety and welfare of persons, pedestrians, equestrians, motorists, and children throughout the City. The purpose of this chapter is to implement reasonable regulations on the operation and use of these types of mobility devices pursuant to the City's police power to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, to better promote the safe use and operation of regulated mobility devices, to prevent vehicular and pedestrian conflicts and other traffic hazards, to prevent hazards to public safety, and to enhance pedestrian and motorist safety.
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)
In addition to the definitions set forth in Section 10.80.010 or elsewhere in this code, for purposes of this chapter, the words and phrases defined herein shall be construed in accordance with the following definitions:
"Bikeways"
are defined by the City's Updated 2024 Riding, Hiking, and Bikeway Trails Component as follows:
1. 
Paved Trails (Class I Bikeway). Paved paths intended primarily for use by bicyclists, pedestrians, those in wheelchairs, and those with strollers.
2. 
Bike Lanes (Class II Bikeway). Striped, stenciled, and signed lanes on streets or highways for the use of bicycles. Bike lanes with an additional painted buffer are known as Class IIB Buffered Bikeways.
3. 
Bike Routes (Class III Bikeway). Signed routes along streets or highways; bicycles share travel lanes with motor vehicles.
4. 
Separated Bikeways (Class IV Bikeway). Bike lanes with physical protection from motor vehicles such as with bollards, concrete, planters, or landscaping.
"Electric bicycle"
has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 312.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Electrically motorized board"
has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Electric personal assistive mobility device"
has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 313, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Enforcement officer"
means any peace officer, person designated as a Code Enforcement Officer pursuant to Section 1.03.040 of this code, or any City employee designated by the City Manager or employee of the Orange County Sheriff's Department authorized to administer or process violations related to this chapter.
"Low-speed vehicle"
has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 385.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Motorized scooter"
has the same meaning as in California Vehicle Code Section 407.5, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Multipurpose trails"
are defined by the City's Updated 2024 Riding, Hiking, and Bikeway Trails Component as follows:
1. 
Earthen Multipurpose Trails. Soft surfaces intended for use by equestrians, hikers, joggers, and some mountain bicyclists where appropriate.
2. 
Paved Multipurpose Trails. Trails for multiple users (hikers, joggers, equestrians, bicyclists) that do not necessarily meet Class I bikeway standards because of varying widths and surfaces.
"Operate"
means to ride, operate, and/or otherwise control a regulated mobility device other than walking such device.
"Park"
means a public park owned, operated, and/or maintained by the City.
"Regulated mobility device"
means an electric bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electrically motorized board, low-speed vehicle, motorized scooter, shared mobility device, and any other similar mobility device.
"Shared mobility devices"
have the same meaning as in California Civil Code Section 2505, as it may be amended from time to time.
"Sidewalk"
means the portion of the public right-of-way between the curb line of any street, road, highway, bicycle lane, or other thoroughfare designed for vehicular travel and the adjacent property line, or any other paved path or walkway, which is intended for pedestrian travel, whether publicly or privately owned and/or maintained.
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)
A. 
It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person to operate a regulated mobility device in an unsafe manner on any street, road, highway, sidewalk, bike path, bike lane, multipurpose trail, park, or upon any private property which is held open to the public for pedestrian travel. Operating a regulated mobility device in an unsafe manner includes any one or more of the following:
1. 
Violating any provision of the Yorba Linda Municipal Code, California Vehicle Code, or other law or regulation applicable to the use or operation of a regulated mobility device.
2. 
Operating on any street, road, highway, or bicycle lane against the direction of traffic.
3. 
Operating in a manner other than the manner in which the regulated mobility device was designed.
4. 
Operating at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour on any street, road, highway, Class II/III/IV bikeway, or at any speed greater than is reasonable or prudent under the conditions then existing.
5. 
Operating at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour on any multipurpose trails (including the EI Cajon Trail and Class I bikeway), parks, sidewalks, or other area generally open to public access, or at any speed greater than is reasonable or prudent under the conditions then existing. Example: when passing pedestrians or equestrians on a multipurpose trail, those on regulated mobility devices shall slow down and pass at low speed while maneuvering away from pedestrians at a safe distance.
6. 
Operating while hitched to or physically attached to any moving vehicle or motorized device or operating while allowing another person who is not a passenger to either cling to or to be physically attached to the regulated mobility device.
7. 
Operating a regulated mobility device while carrying a passenger is prohibited for any person under the age of 16, regardless of the device's design.
8. 
Operating while lifting one or more wheels into the air.
9. 
Operating while failing to yield the right-of-way to any and all pedestrians and equestrians or failing to yield the right-of-way to a vehicle upon entering a roadway or driveway from a sidewalk.
10. 
Operating in any manner that endangers the operator, passengers, other motorists, other riders, equestrians, or pedestrians in the area.
11. 
Operating while failing to obey any posted signs regulating operation including signs prohibiting operation in specific areas.
12. 
Intentionally swerving or riding around stopped or slowed traffic, including street takeovers and intentionally preventing vehicular traffic from proceeding.
13. 
Operating a bicycle, scooter, or other regulated device without wearing a properly fitted and fastened helmet is prohibited for any person under the age of 18, including passengers.
14. 
Tampering with or modifying a regulated mobility device so as to change the speed capability of the device, or otherwise altering, modifying, or adjusting the motor settings to increase the speed of the device, unless the required label indicating the classification is appropriately replaced.
15. 
Operating, or attempt to operate, any regulated mobility device while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, any controlled substance, or any combination thereof. Any person arrested for a violation of this section shall have the right to request a chemical test of their breath to determine the presence and concentration of alcohol, or a chemical test of their blood to determine the presence and concentration of alcohol and/or controlled substances, which will be paid for by the arrestee. Upon such request, the arresting officer shall cause the appropriate test to be administered.
16. 
Operating a regulated mobility device in a manner that damages public or private landscaping, public infrastructure, or private property.
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)
A. 
City Council May Designate Prohibitions. The City Council may by resolution designate and declare any street, road, highway, sidewalk, multipurpose trail, or other area generally open to public access, or portions thereof, to be locations where the operation of regulated mobility devices are prohibited.
B. 
City Engineer to Post Prohibitions. The City Engineer is authorized to cause signs and/or markings to be placed, giving notice of such prohibitions as necessary to implement the regulations established by subsection A above.
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)
A. 
Public Agency Personnel. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, or any other section of this code, City and public agency personnel may operate regulated mobility devices or other vehicles at any place in the City in the performance of their official duties.
B. 
Mobility Devices. This chapter is not intended to apply to or otherwise restrict regulated mobility devices used in a safe manner by physically disabled persons as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.).
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)
The first violation of this chapter is deemed an infraction, punishable by a fine of $250. The second violation of this chapter by an individual shall be subject to a $500 fine. A third and any subsequent violations of this chapter within a 12-month time period may be charged as a misdemeanor in accordance with Section 1.12.010 of this code at the discretion of the City Attorney and the penalties for a misdemeanor shall apply to the violation with a fine of $1,000. If the City Attorney determines not to charge a subsequent violation as a misdemeanor, the violation shall be punishable as an infraction with a fine of $500.
(Ord. 2025-1114, 10/7/2025)