Folsom E-Bike Fines Up to $500 and Two Park Bans: What Changes After the Nov. 10 Vote

Jump to: Rules table | Fines | Parents | Parks and speed limits | Park bans | Riding behavior | Modified bikes | Parkway and state rules | Parent checklist | Local shops | FAQ

The changes that matter most for families: fines climb to $500 for repeat violations within a year, parents can be billed for their kids' violations, and the parks director gets the power to close any park to e-bikes with signs. Economy Family Park and Prospector Park are first in line.

Status as of Nov. 1, 2026: passed first reading Oct. 27. Second reading and final adoption are expected in roughly two weeks, which points to the council's Nov. 10 meeting. If adopted, it takes effect 30 days later. This is general information, not legal advice. Check the city's adopted text before you rely on any detail.

The rules at a glance

Source: Folsom Times and Folsom-El Dorado Hills News coverage of the Oct. 27 staff presentation. The final adopted text could change on second reading.

The fines: $100, $250, $500

The fine schedule escalates within a one-year window:

• First violation: $100
• Second violation within one year: $250
• Each additional violation within that year: $500

The Parks and Recreation Commission wanted steeper penalties. The council kept the fine structure it developed in its earlier discussions.

City staff expect minimal fine revenue, according to the Folsom Times. The point is to give officers a specific local violation to cite instead of relying only on the Vehicle Code.

Parents can be billed for their kids

This is the section most Folsom parents will want to read twice.

If a rider is under 18, the city must give the parent or guardian a copy of any notice or order issued to the child. Administrative penalties can be assessed against both the minor and the parent or guardian.

There is a limit. A parent does not become criminally liable just because their child was cited for an infraction. Parents can also request a hearing and seek judicial review of a penalty.

In plain terms: if your 14-year-old gets a third ticket in a year, you could be the one paying $500. You would not be charged with a crime for it.

Parks and speed limits

Two speed limits apply:

• 15 mph on Class I bike paths. These are the paved, off-street trails. The limit covers e-bikes, regular bikes, e-scooters and other covered devices.
• 10 mph on paved walkways inside city parks. If a park path is signed as a Class I bike path, the 15 mph limit applies there instead.

Inside parks you must stay on paved paths and walkways. Playgrounds, athletic fields, sports courts and other areas not meant for riding are off-limits. Bikes and covered devices also can't leave the trail for the unpaved or landscaped strips next to a Class I path.

Class 1 and 2 e-bikes assist to 20 mph and Class 3 to 28 mph, so both limits sit well below what the bikes can do.

Which parks could ban e-bikes

The ordinance doesn't ban e-bikes from every park. It gives the Parks and Recreation director authority to close individual parks or trails case by case, when she finds it supports public health, safety and welfare. Signs have to be posted before police can enforce a park-specific ban.

Staff named Economy Family Park and Prospector Park as the first two candidates. They had the most complaints and calls for service.

The city plans two kinds of signs:

1. Park signs that close a park to e-bikes and electric motorcycles.
2. Trailhead signs that allow Class 1, 2 and 3 e-bikes at posted speeds and ban electric motorcycles.

More parks could follow. Council members asked about Sheldon Park, with its sports fields and playground, and expect to review the rollout in three to six months, according to the Folsom Times.

Councilmember Barbara Leary voted no. She offered a substitute motion that would have set a defined process and criteria for residents who want their park added to the ban list. It died for lack of a second.

Mayor Justin Raithel said the goal is to give police new tools, not to ban e-bikes everywhere, and that the framework leaves room to close more parks later.

Riding behavior that can get a ticket

Beyond speed, the ordinance lists specific unsafe riding. You can be cited for:

• Carrying more riders than the e-bike is built for
• Riding on athletic fields or turf
• Not yielding to pedestrians on walkways, trails or bike paths
• Swerving around stopped or slow traffic in a hazardous way
• Riding against traffic, except when passing safely
• Ignoring posted signs or markings
• Riding faster than is reasonable for conditions
• Using a handheld phone or device, unless it's set up hands-free
• Wheelies, riding with a wheel off the ground, or tricks, unless the area is signed for it
• Entering a special event that is signed closed to e-bikes

The yield rule is new for Folsom. Commander Andrew Bates told the council the city had no ordinance that specifically required riders to yield to pedestrians in parks.

Police described targeted enforcement with motor officers, unmarked cars and drones. Officers sometimes follow riders home. "The word gets out and riders are talking to each other," Bates said.

Modified e-bikes and electric motorcycles

The ordinance sets equipment rules. An e-bike has to meet federal bicycle safety standards, and the motor must cut out when you brake or release the control.

It also addresses tampering. If someone modifies an e-bike to go faster, the classification label has to be replaced to show what the bike can really do.

Electric motorcycles that don't qualify as e-bikes stay banned from city bike paths. So do motorized bicycles and golf carts. Sacramento County describes an e-moto as an electric motorcycle with two wheels, handlebars, a straddle seat and no pedals.

How this fits with the Parkway and state law

Folsom sits at the east end of the American River Parkway, and riders cross city, county and state land without noticing. The rules change at those lines.

• City of Folsom paths and parks: Ordinance 1380, once it takes effect.
• American River Parkway (Sacramento County Regional Parks): Class 3 e-bikes are not allowed, and the 15 mph speed limit applies to all riders. E-motorcycles are banned on Regional Parks trails.
• Folsom Lake State Recreation Area: run by California State Parks, with its own rules. Check the posted signs.

California law still applies everywhere. Class 3 riders must be at least 16 and wear a helmet. Riders under 18 must wear a helmet on any class. No license or registration is required for a legal Class 1, 2 or 3 e-bike. Our California e-bike laws guide covers the details.

Folsom isn't alone in pairing a trail speed limit with tighter rules on where e-bikes can go. We compared those approaches in our look at 15 mph trail limits vs. Class 3 bans.

Parent checklist before the rules take effect

1. Check the class label. Find it on the frame. If there's no label, or the bike has been unlocked to go faster, it may not count as an e-bike at all.
2. Know the two numbers. 15 mph on bike paths, 10 mph on park walkways.
3. Stay off grass and fields. Riding on turf or athletic fields is a citable offense under the ordinance.
4. Walk it through closed parks. Watch for new signs at Economy Family Park and Prospector Park first.
5. Phone in a pocket or mount. Handheld use while riding is banned.
6. No wheelies. Stunts are banned outside signed areas.
7. Talk about the fine math. Three tickets in a year can cost $850, and the bill may come to you.

Bryan Greenwalt of the Folsom Athletic Association told the council groups of teens on e-bikes had damaged turf and harassed players. Greg Weiss, who lives near Economy Park, put it more simply: "Unfortunately, the problem isn't the bikes, it's the kids who are operating them."

Folsom e-bike shops

A shop can check your bike's class label and tell you whether it's a legal e-bike or an electric motorcycle. Our directory lists 4 shops in Folsom, including Trek Bicycle Folsom, Mike's Bikes of Folsom, AE Service Course and Practical Cycle Electric Bikes.

For more options, see all Sacramento County e-bike shops or nearby El Dorado Hills. Call ahead to confirm hours and services.

FAQ

When do Folsom's new e-bike rules take effect?

Not yet. The ordinance passed first reading Oct. 27 and returns for final adoption, expected in roughly two weeks, at the council's Nov. 10 meeting. If adopted then, it takes effect 30 days later, around Dec. 10, as long as the city completes the required publication.

How much is an e-bike ticket in Folsom?

$100 for a first offense, $250 for a second within a year, and $500 for each additional violation within that year.

Can parents be fined for their child's e-bike ticket?

Yes. Administrative penalties can be assessed against both the minor and the parent or guardian. Parents are not criminally liable just because their child was cited, and they can request a hearing.

Are e-bikes banned from all Folsom parks?

No. Riding is allowed on paved paths and walkways at 10 mph unless a park is closed by sign. Economy Family Park and Prospector Park are the first parks proposed for closure.

What is the e-bike speed limit on Folsom bike trails?

15 mph on Class I bike paths. The limit applies to regular bikes and e-scooters too.

Know a Folsom-area shop that should be listed? Find your area in the California directory and send us the details.