ENCINITAS — In the wake of the recent death of 15-year-old Brodee Champlain-Kingman, killed in a traffic collision while riding his e-bike, the Encinitas City Council unanimously ratified a local traffic safety emergency declaration concerning e-bikes and bikes during a June 28 special meeting.
The proclamation stated that e-bikes are faster and heavier, a factor in collisions that tend “to lead to more severe injuries and subsequent hospitalization rates when compared to regular bikes.”
“My hope is to elevate this conversation about bicycling and safety to alleviate any other tragedies like we’ve recently experienced,” Mayor Tony Kranz said in the opening remarks of the meeting.
The number of crashes involving bicycles or e-bikes in Encinitas has nearly tripled since 2020, city officials said, from a total of 17 collisions in 2020 to 48 reported crashes in 2022.
Since the beginning of this year, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has reported 11 e-bike-involved collisions in Encinitas. Bicycle collisions are highest during the summer months between June and September, according to the city.
The council adopted new safety measures modeled after a similar declaration made by the Carlsbad City Council last August following a spike in e-bike collisions. According to reports, the number of cycling-related collisions in Carlsbad has dropped since the city launched its safety campaign.
The city of Encinitas will utilize road signs, education campaigns, and enhanced policing to enforce the proper use of bikes, e-bikes and motorized mobility devices.
“By declaring a local emergency, the city plans to create more awareness around the issue,” Kranz said. “The city has created a public education campaign which includes coordinating with school districts and private schools to relay traffic safety messages and implementing electronic messaging boards at high collision and traffic areas, reminding motorists and bicyclists the importance of roadway safety.”
In June, the Encinitas City Council approved a change to an ordinance making it “unlawful for the operator of any bicycle to carry any other person upon the handlebars of any such bicycle” or “in any other manner not designed for passenger riding” on highways or public roads. The amended code allows sheriff’s deputies to send first-time violators of the ordinance to an e-bike education course.
The city’s emergency declaration includes renting 10 electronic message boards for 12 weeks at an estimated cost of $35,000. The panels will be placed in high-visibility areas, alerting motorists and cyclists to potential safety issues.
“They will have messages for both drivers and bikers because the responsibility is on both, and we want to make sure both are doing the right thing to be safe,” said Assistant City Manager Jennifer Campbell.
Staff also recommended the council develops a public education campaign, including distributing 300 yard signs for $1,900 throughout the community and working with area schools on cyclist rules and safety issues. The campaign will also include a short film about e-bike safety measures produced by the Sheriff’s Department and Encinitas Fire Department that can be shown to students and other riders.
The city traffic engineering employees will also review roadway conditions and traffic accident statistics to determine possible changes to improve cyclists’ safety and bring proposals for the council’s consideration next month.
Prior to the city’s emergency declaration, the Encinitas City Council approved the coming fiscal year’s budget, which includes $75,000 for an e-bike safety education program in partnership with local schools. The budget also covers funding for a new mobility manager position and the city is currently seeking applications for the position.
During public comment, several residents expressed concerns over unsafe conditions for e-bike riders and cyclists on main thoroughfares like El Camino Real, Manchester Avenue and Coast Highway 101, which a few described as “freeway-like” conditions.
Members of the Champlain-Kingman family also spoke during the meeting and acknowledged the urgency of this issue following the death of Brodee Champlain-Kingman.
“Brodee was an outstanding student. He had a hunger for knowledge and education, and in doing so, he studied diligently to obtain his learner’s permit to drive a motorized vehicle,” said Roy Kingman, Brodee’s father. “He did what he had to do to protect himself, and we did as parents to see him go forth into this world without our protection.”
According to Kingman, Brodee was a well-educated e-cyclist who knew the rules of the road, was wearing his helmet, and used the appropriate hand signals to indicate his intention to turn.
“One of the things that I hope we can accomplish with this educational opportunity is that more of us recognize there is a lot more that we can learn,” Kranz said. “That goes not just for people on two wheels, but also people driving on four wheels.”
The local emergency will be terminated on September 30, 2023, unless otherwise extended.
