Riverbank Cracks Down on Reckless E-Bike Riding: 30-Day Impound, $150 Fee, and New Licensing Rules

Riverbank has revised its city code to address reckless e-bike riding, and the changes carry real weight. Under the update, the most serious cases of disregard for public safety can result in a 30-day impound, with a $150 fee required to retrieve the bike. The city also now requires bikes to be licensed.

Mayor Rachel Hernandez said the city’s focus remains on promoting safe riding and active living, but recent incidents pushed officials to add an enforcement tool. Each reckless riding instance will be evaluated individually, meaning not every violation leads straight to a month-long impound.

The move lands as e-bike use keeps climbing across the region, from the American River Parkway to neighborhood streets. Cities everywhere are weighing how to encourage active transportation while keeping trails and roads safe for everyone. Riverbank is one of the first in the area to put a specific penalty structure in place. Would a similar rule make sense in Sacramento, or is this a step too far? Let us know what you think.