L.A. City Council Panel Seeks to Ban E-Bikes on Hiking, Equestrian Trails

Proposal aims to address safety concerns from hikers, equestrians about motorized bikes on shared trails

Apr. 14, 2026 at 10:41pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated icon of an electric bicycle, rendered in a high-contrast, neon-tinged palette that captures the tension between modern transportation and shared public spaces.As e-bikes become more common, a proposed ban on their use on shared recreational trails in Los Angeles highlights the need to balance new mobility options with the safety concerns of traditional trail users.Los Angeles Today

A Los Angeles City Council panel has voted 3-0 to propose banning electric bikes from most city recreational trails, citing concerns that the motorized bikes pose a threat to hikers and equestrians sharing the same space. The measure now heads to the Transportation Committee before potentially advancing to the full City Council for approval.

Why it matters

The proposed ban highlights growing tensions over the increasing popularity of e-bikes and how they interact with traditional trail users like hikers and equestrians. While e-bikes provide an eco-friendly transportation option, their speed and power can create safety issues on shared trails not designed for motorized vehicles.

The details

The council's Arts, Parks, Libraries, and Community Enrichment Committee voted in favor of the measure, which would still allow e-bikes on designated bikeways in the city. Regular bikes are already banned from anything designated as a 'trail' under a city ordinance, but e-bikes were a gray area the proposal aims to address. Supporters of the ban, including an equestrian center representative, say horses can be easily spooked by fast-moving e-bikes, creating dangerous situations. Critics argue the ban is a 'blunt instrument' and the city should instead focus on public education to promote safe trail sharing.

  • The council committee voted 3-0 in favor of the measure on April 14, 2026.
  • The proposal now heads to the Transportation Committee before potentially advancing to the full City Council for final approval.

The players

Adrin Nazarian

A Los Angeles City Council member who voted to support the measure but said he was open to making changes such as restricting some classes of e-bikes instead of a unilateral ban.

John Lee

The Los Angeles City Council member who proposed the measure to ban e-bikes from city hiking and equestrian trails.

Lisa Baca

A representative from the Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center in the San Fernando Valley who supports the proposed ban, saying horses can easily be spooked by fast-moving e-bikes.

Eli Akira Kaufman

The director of the nonprofit advocacy group BikeLA, who criticized the proposed ban as a 'blunt instrument' and said the city should instead engage in a public education campaign.

Michael Schneider

The chief executive of StreetsForAll, who said the main problem on trails comes not from e-bikes but from more powerful motorcycles and motorized trail bikes.

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What they’re saying

“When you have something that's motorized traversing that same space, especially if it's somewhat of a rugged space, for folks that have sensitivities — knees, ankles — you don't want to create an intimidating situation.”

— Adrin Nazarian, Los Angeles City Council member

“They panic and it becomes very dangerous”

— Lisa Baca, Monteverde Ranch Equestrian Center representative

“Minors riding e-bikes do not appreciate how fast that these bikes go, and they don't know the rules that apply to riding an e-bike. It's just a recipe for disaster.”

— Catherine Lerer, Partner, McGee Lerer Ogrin law firm

What’s next

The proposal will next be considered by the City Council's Transportation Committee before potentially advancing to the full City Council for a final vote.

The takeaway

The debate over e-bikes on shared trails highlights the need for cities to balance the benefits of eco-friendly transportation options with the safety concerns of traditional trail users. As e-bike popularity grows, policymakers will have to carefully navigate these competing interests to develop fair and effective regulations.