Article 44 — SHARED MOBILITY DEVICES

Cities have the authority and responsibility to protect public health, safety and welfare. Additionally, cities can regulate commerce in the public right-of-way and issue discretionary permits on private property. The City reserves the right to amend, modify, or change the terms and conditions within this Chapter at its discretion.

The purposes of this Chapter are to prohibit shared mobility devices from being placed in the public right-of-way or on public property, operated in the public right-ofway or offered for use anywhere in the City so as to allow for proper pedestrian and vehicular flow, to promote public safety, and to provide adequate time for the City to develop a comprehensive set of regulations or a pilot program that may be adopted so as to address potential nuisance conditions and safety concerns related to the operation of shared on-demand mobility devices.

As used in this Article, the following words, terms and phrases will have the meanings ascribed to them in this Section:

a) "Shared mobility device (SMD)" shall mean any transportation device by which a person can be propelled, moved, or drawn, including, but not limited to, a motorized scooter, electric bicycle, bicycle, or other devices, which is offered for rent to a consumer, unattended or remotely accessed, docked or undocked.

b) A "motorized scooter" is any two (2) wheeled device that has handlebars, has a floorboard that is designed to be stood upon when riding, and is powered by an electric motor. This device may also have a driver seat that does not interfere with the ability of the rider to stand and ride and may also be designed to be powered by human propulsion. For purposes of this Article, a motorcycle, motorized bicycle or moped is not a motorized scooter. Motorized scooters are regulated by the California Vehicle Code (CVC) (Sections 21220 through 21235).

c) "Docking station" is an apparatus whereby the scooters and bicycles are parked in an upright position to a charger and are locked in place. The scooters and bicycles can only be removed when unlocked by the user when rented for a period of time. For the origination and/or termination of a "ride," the scooter and bicycle shall be returned to such docking station.

d) "Bicycle" is a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one (1) or more wheels. Bicycles are regulated by the CVC (Sections 21200 through 21213).

e) "Electric bicycle" is a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts. A "class 1 electric bicycle," or "low-speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour. A "class 2 electric bicycle," or "low-speed throttle-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle, and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour. A "class 3 electric bicycle," or "speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer. Electric bicycles are regulated by the CVC (Section 312.5).

f twenty (20) miles per hour. A "class 3 electric bicycle," or "speed pedal-assisted electric bicycle," is a bicycle equipped with a motor that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling, and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour, and equipped with a speedometer. Electric bicycles are regulated by the CVC (Section 312.5).

f) A "motorized quadricycle" is a four (4) wheeled device, and a "motorized tricycle" is a three (3) wheeled device, designed to carry not more than two (2) persons, including the driver, and having either an electric motor or a motor with an automatic transmission developing less than two (2) gross brake horsepower and capable of propelling the device at a maximum speed of not more than thirty (30) miles per hour on level ground. The device shall be utilized only by a person who by reason of physical disability is otherwise unable to move about as a pedestrian or by a senior citizen as defined in California Vehicle Code Section 13000.

a) It is unlawful for any member of the public to leave a SMD unattended, abandoned or otherwise unused, parked standing or on its side, for any length of time in any portion of the public rights-of-way, City-owned property, or anywhere within the City.

b) It is unlawful for any SMD vendor to install/operate a hub for a SMD system, docked station or dockless, to be offered for use, to be rented from an app-based GIS/remote/unattended rental system, to be placed in the City available for use, or to be abandoned or otherwise unused, parked standing or on its side, for any length of time in any portion of the public rights-of-way, City-owned property, or anywhere within the City.

c) Personally owned and operated e-scooters, e-bikes and bicycles need to comply with the rules and regulations of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) and the Torrance Municipal Code (TMC), but in terms of responsibility of the device, they are exclusive to the owner of the device.

a) Violations of this Chapter will result in City staff notification to the operator to remove device(s) within twenty-four (24) hours.

b) If operator fails to remove device(s) within twenty-four (24) hours, then City staff may remove said device(s) and take to a City facility for storage, and notify operator.

c) If operator continues to violate this Chapter after City staff has notified operator of violation and requested removal of device(s), and no action has been taken by the operator to remove device(s), it may result in the operator’s inability to apply for any future permits or licenses to operate a program in the City of Torrance, for a period of one (1) year from the resolution of the violation.

a) Any person wishing to recover a shared mobility device which has been stored at a City facility shall:

• 1. Provide sufficient proof of ownership of the shared mobility device to the Public Works Department; and

2. Provide proof that the requisite fee has been paid to the Finance Department. Home Previous Next

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