E-Bike Laws in Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach has the most punitive first-offense penalty in California: a first violation carries $500 and a misdemeanour, rising to $750 for a second within a year and $1,000 for each subsequent one. The urgency ordinance adopted September 5, 2023 bans riding on city sidewalks, plazas, grass areas, The Strand, Veterans Parkway and parking structures, caps the Marvin Braude Bike Trail at 15 mph, and creates walk-only zones on both sides of the pier. Despite the severity, enforcement has been minimal — no citations were issued on the Strand or the trail in the reported period after adoption.
The ordinance exists and its substance is corroborated by the Beach Cities Health District, a public agency. But the MBMC section numbers and the ordinance number could not be found. The city's news page and its police bicycle-safety page both returned errors to retrieval, and Municode would not serve the chapter text. The May 2026 amendment's ordinance number and exact date are also unconfirmed. No section numbers have been guessed at. Verify with the Manhattan Beach City Clerk before relying on any of this.
The rules, line by line
| Subject | Rule | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibited locations | No riding on city sidewalks, plazas, grass areas, The Strand, Veterans Parkway, or parking structures. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Marvin Braude Bike Trail | Maximum 15 mph. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Pier | Walk-only zones on both sides of the pier. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Unsafe riding | No speeding, racing or stunts. Must yield to pedestrians at all times. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Helmets | Required under 18. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Passengers | None unless a proper seat is provided. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| Penalties | 1st violation $500 and a misdemeanour; 2nd within one year $750; 3rd and subsequent within one year $1,000 each. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
| 2026 amendment | A further set of rules reported effective May 2026 adds prohibitions on handheld phone use, earbuds and wheelies, and creates new misdemeanour categories. | no citation locatedCitation unconfirmed |
Severe on paper, quiet in practice
The $500-and-a-misdemeanour first offense is an outlier. Most California cities that regulate e-bikes start at $25 to $100, and several — Coronado, La Mesa, San Diego — waive the fine entirely on completion of a safety course.
What actually happened after adoption is the more useful fact. In the reported period following the September 2023 urgency ordinance, it "has not led to any citations on the Strand or the Marvin Braude trail," and the 15 mph trail limit had produced no citations at all.
This is the general pattern across the South Bay: strong ordinances, minimal enforcement, education first. Hermosa Beach's police chief has publicly identified the core problem — proving that a motor was engaged is difficult, which is why Hermosa mandated geofencing on rental e-bikes instead of relying on citations.
The South Bay is a patchwork
Three adjoining cities, three completely different regimes:
| City | Sidewalks | Beach path | First offense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan Beach | Banned, plus The Strand and Veterans Parkway | 15 mph | $500 + misdemeanour |
| Hermosa Beach | Motor must be off on the Strand walkway | 8 mph on the Strand | $250–$1,000 |
| Redondo Beach | Only where posted | No limit set | No local ordinance |
A rider travelling the length of the Marvin Braude trail passes through all three plus Santa Monica, El Segundo and the City of Los Angeles. Nothing on the ground marks the transitions.
Common questions
Can you ride an e-bike on The Strand in Manhattan Beach?
No. The September 2023 urgency ordinance prohibits riding on The Strand, along with city sidewalks, plazas, grass areas, Veterans Parkway and parking structures. Note that neighboring Hermosa Beach handles the same walkway differently — there, manual pedalling is permitted and only motor-assisted riding is banned.
What is the fine for an e-bike violation in Manhattan Beach?
$500 and a misdemeanour for a first violation, $750 for a second within one year, and $1,000 for each subsequent violation within a year. This is the harshest first-offense structure documented in California. In practice, zero citations were issued on the Strand or the Marvin Braude trail in the reported period after the ordinance took effect.
What is the e-bike speed limit on the Marvin Braude trail in Manhattan Beach?
15 mph. Note that the limit differs by city along the same trail: Hermosa Beach sets 8 mph on the Strand walkway, and Santa Monica sets no numeric limit on its segment of the path.