SacCounty Board of Supervisors Adopts Ordinance Updates to Protect Parks and Recreation Facilities

At its Tuesday, May 12 meeting, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted a set of ordinance changes recommended by Sacramento County Regional Parks designed to better protect park users, park and recreation facilities and natural areas from the growing impacts of Class 3 e-bikes, e-motorcycles, dirtbikes, quads and unauthorized trail building. These ordinance changes go into effect thirty days from today, and violations of these ordinances can be either an infraction or a misdemeanor.

The use of un-permitted, high-speed, modified e-bikes and e-motorcycles has become increasingly common. These vehicles are inherently dangerous to the public due to their speed. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission completed a report on Mircomobility Products-Related Deaths, Injuries and Hazard Patterns, which found that injuries with all micromobility devices have trended upward since 2017, with an average increase of 23% annually. Children 14 years and younger accounted for 36% of these injuries, and May through October had the largest percentages for both e-scooter and e-bike related injuries.

The updated ordinances clarify and strengthen protections for environmentally sensitive areas that have recently seen increased damage. Regional Parks facilities, primarily in the Nature Study Areas and Protected Areas of the American River Parkway, have recently experienced a dramatic increase in vandalism and destruction when members of the public create unauthorized off-road bicycle courses, including jumps and tracks with blind turns. These tracks are dangerous to members of the public because they are located on trails which are designated for pedestrian and equestrian use only. The creation of these off-road bicycle courses in these areas, coupled with the use of illegal Class 3 e-bikes and e-motorcycles pose a significant danger to people lawfully using the trails either by foot or on horse.

Additionally, the ordinance updates provide Regional Parks staff with clearer authority to address unauthorized trail construction and other ground-disturbing activities and includes the ability to seek restitution for the cost of restoration of the damaged area.

The newly adopted ordinances also address activities related to individuals entering and remaining on County golf courses and sports complexes for purposes other than playing golf or the intended purpose of the sports complex. These restrictions are intended to improve safety for patrons and protect the condition of turf and other facilities that are not designed to accommodate bike traffic.

“The ordinance updates will allow Rangers to better educate visitors about appropriate park use and, where necessary, enforce park rules that help preserve the quality of parklands for all residents,” said Regional Parks Director, Liz Bellas. “The changes reflect our long-term goals to balance recreation with stewardship of natural and community resources.”

The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors’ action today ensures that Regional Parks has the tools needed to protect park users, natural areas, golf and sports fields and maintain safe, high-quality recreation experiences across the county’s park system.

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