CARLSBAD – After a years-long effort, Carlsbad is on the doorstep of implementing a series of regulations regarding e-bikes within the city.
During its Feb. 10 meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to introduce an ordinance amending the municipal code to address e-bikes and to adopt a resolution prohibiting e-bikes at Poinsettia Community Park and Pine Avenue Community Park, adding both sites to a list of public locations where e-bikes are banned.
The ordinance is planned to return to the City Council for adoption at the Feb. 24 meeting.
The city declared a local state of emergency in Aug. 2022 due to an increase in collisions involving bikes and e-bikes since 2019.
The introduced ordinance resulted from a process that included input from the Traffic Mobility and Safety Commission, the public, and other stakeholders, and was in accordance with a countywide pilot program established by state law.
Police Lieutenant Jason Arnotti said the collection of policies “reflects council direction, community feedback and observed safety trends” and “establishes clear and proportionate tools to address identified risks while preserving responsible e-bike use throughout our community.”
The ordinance would modernize regulations, establish a minimum-age framework consistent with the pilot program established under state Assembly Bill 2234, and provide officers with specific enforcement tools.
Some of the unsafe riding behaviors defined by the ordinance include excessive speed for the roadway conditions, performing stunts and racing.
Arnotti said that the new policies would place an emphasis on information, including the ability to waive fines upon proof of completion of an e-bike safety and training program within 120 days, as well as an emphasis on parental liability.
“Enforcement will be grounded in education paired with parental accountability,” he said.
Children under the age of 12 would be prohibited from riding Class 1 or Class 2 e-bikes within the city, according to city documents.
Arnotti said the ordinance also included a “narrowly tailored seizure authority” that was modified after the December city council meeting.
The ordinance states that “a police officer may seize any electric bicycle operated by a minor when the officer has probable cause to believe that the minor committed any violation of this Chapter and that the violation created an immediate or substantial risk to public safety.”
If adopted, the city would initiate a 30-day public information campaign, followed by a 60-day warning period with standard enforcement beginning after those transition phases.
The City Council also adopted a resolution to limit e-bikes in the two city parks, which was not part of the ordinance. This is a response to calls for service and recurring community concerns, according to city documents. Walking a bicycle through the parks would remain permitted unless otherwise posted.
Mayor Pro Tem Priya Bhat-Patel said that she has heard “mixed reviews” about where e-bike policies are headed.
“I just want to reemphasize that our goal isn’t to punish folks,” Bhat-Patel said. “It’s really not to limit mobility. It’s really to figure out how we can make sure that we’re keeping kids safe.”
Bhat-Patel added that it is important for drivers to do their part for safety, saying that if “you’re a driver, please be mindful of the children that are out there and make sure you’re following the speed limits,” and asking drivers to avoid distractions.
Councilmember Teresa Acosta said that just as the city sponsored and championed AB 2234, it was working with state Assemblymember Tasha Boerner on a new collection of bills to codify acceptable behavior in the fast-evolving space.
The bills would include policies to coordinate safety efforts with school districts, Acosta said, making statewide what Carlsbad already does with schools within its city limits.
“There are a lot more things coming,” Bhat-Patel said. “It’s not just Carlsbad, it’s not just the San Diego Region. It’s statewide.
“We haven’t quite fixed all the pieces yet because it’s a moving and fluid situation.”
Councilmember Kevin Shin said he was in favor of the ordinance, but believed the main issue with e-bikes was acceleration. He questioned why Class 2 e-bikes were legal for children ages 12-16 to ride, but scooters and similar vehicles that require licenses were not, even though they accelerate from a stop at the same rate.
Shin added that, as he likes to remind his children, he would ride a pedal bicycle around town to get around and get exercise.
“I think it’s great that there’s e-bikes for adults so they can have more mobility access,” he said. “But for those that are this young, their brains are just not formed enough yet to really grasp the dangers that they’re going to see.”
