Carlsbad’s city sign is pictured in October 2021. (OsideNews file photo by Steve Marcotte)
The Carlsbad City Council recently approved a new set of e-bike safety measures that will change who can ride, where e-bikes are allowed and how the rules will be enforced, with most changes expected to take effect in spring 2026.
The council’s unanimous decision follows a process of community feedback, data review and recommendations from the city’s Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission. It also comes after the San Marcos City Council approved its own pilot e-bike safety program at the end of October.
At the heart of Carlsbad’s update is a new minimum riding age of 12, made possible under state Assembly Bill 2234, which allows for such pilot programs to gauge safety measures in San Diego County in the wake of accidents, injuries and deaths involving young riders, including in coastal communities such as Encinitas and Carlsbad.
Ahead of the City Council’s vote, staff members reported that more than 550 residents submitted comments this fall, and about 85% supported imposing a minimum age. Other proposed steps address rider behavior, equipment standards and adult responsibility for younger riders, all intended to clarify and strengthen the city’s existing e-bike ordinance.
The council also directed staff to pursue the ability to join two statewide efforts: one that would bar riders under 16 from transporting passengers, and another modeled on Marin County’s Assembly Bill 1778 pilot program. That program allows participating cities to require helmet use on throttle-assisted, Class 2 e-bikes and restrict riders under 16 from using that class of bike altogether.
Local park access will change as well, according to the city.
E-bikes will be prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue Community Parks, and the city manager will have authority to expand that restriction to other parks based on community feedback and public safety data. The city will also begin charging cost-recovery fees, authorized under Assembly Bill 875, for owners to retrieve impounded e-bikes.
City staff members will now draft a formal ordinance for future council review and begin working with state officials on the legislative changes needed to implement the council’s direction. Staff will also collect additional information on nighttime e-bike collisions after council members raised questions about potentially restricting riders under 16 from operating e-bikes after dark. More information on the rollout is expected early next year, when the city plans a 30-day public information campaign before the new rules take effect.
This report was partially written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material. View our AI policy on the About Us page.
