Let's be Safer Together, Carlsbad!

The City of Carlsbad uses the three Es of traffic safety -- education, engineering and enforcement -- to help ensure everyone uses local streets safely. Thanks to your support, it's working! Please continue to look out for one another, follow our safety tips and share your commitment publicly so others will do the same.

New e-bike laws

New e-bike laws are now in effect in Carlsbad. Here is what to expect: 

  • Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old, as allowed by Assembly Bill 2234.
  • When a minor breaks the rules and creates an immediate or substantial public safety risk, their e-bike may be impounded. The minor must complete an in-person safety course to retrieve the e-bike, and a parent or guardian must be present when the e-bike is released. 
  • The Police Department can also impound e-motorcycles, which are not street legal. 
  • E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue Community Parks. 

Additionally, the city's previously existing laws have been updated to provide additional clarity on safe riding behavior, including:

  • Riders must go at a safe speed for the conditions, factoring in weather, whether pedestrians are present and how quickly other traffic is moving.
  • Riders under 18 years old must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet.
  • Only e-bikes designed for passengers can carry more than one rider.

  • Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations. 

E-bike chart with e-motorcycles

More information

E-bike laws overview
View the new ordinance  
Watch a recording of the City Council meeting 

Safety classes

Several organizations off bike and e-bike safety courses online: 

Barrio traffic calming

Post Date:06/27/2025

At its meeting on June 24, 2025, the City Council postponed a decision on awarding a construction contract for a project that would install five traffic circles in the Barrio. Instead, the City Council asked staff to bring the proposal back during the July 29 meeting to give the community another opportunity to provide input on the traffic circles and other options to reduce speeding.

The city’s Village and Barrio Master Plan initially identified the project to help calm traffic in the Barrio, based on community input. 

The City Council decided to push back a decision because adding the five traffic circles would also mean some parking in the neighborhood would be removed (regardless, some spots would be lost because of a new state “daylighting” law that restricts parking within 20 feet of most intersections).

Given the parking reduction and recent community feedback about traffic circles and roundabouts in Carlsbad, the City Council asked staff to ensure the community has another opportunity to weigh in before any changes are made. At the July 29 meeting, the City Council will discuss the new input and whether to move forward with the project as proposed or direct staff to explore other ways to slow traffic in the Barrio.

City Council meeting
Tuesday, July 29, 5 p.m.
City Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive  

The city will share more details on how to provide input soon. Sign up for email updates to make sure you’re the first to know when those details are available. 

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