A resurfaced video from a recent Simi Valley City Council meeting is gaining massive traction this week as the community reels from the recent death of 13-year-old Reis Beck.
The footage shows local residents and safety advocates explicitly warning officials that the city’s e-bike ordinances are "full of holes" and failing to address the reality of motorized transit on suburban streets.
In the clip, a resident points out a critical flaw in the proposed modernized rules, which would allow motorized bikes to travel at speeds up to 15 miles per hour on public sidewalks.
"That is illegal already," the resident warned, citing existing vehicle codes for M2-class motorized bicycles.
"You guys are allowing riding at a speed no greater than 15 miles an hour on the sidewalk... that’s making the streets more dangerous, not safer."
The video also highlights deep skepticism regarding the city's reliance on the California Highway Patrol (CHP) safety course as an alternative to fines.
Advocates argue the course is un-proctored and easily bypassed. "There’s no way to prove they actually took the course," a speaker told the council. "They just click through pages."
Furthermore, residents expressed frustration over the lack of enforcement regarding safety gear and riding locations. One speaker questioned why the city is focused on writing "new laws" instead of simply enforcing the existing classifications for mopeds, scooters, and M2 motorized devices.
The timing of the resurfaced video has struck a nerve following the April 25th tragedy where Reis Beck was killed in an e-bike collision with an Amtrak train at the Sequoia Avenue crossing.
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