On Tuesday, Dec. 2, the City Council will consider new e-bike safety measures, including adopting a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes in line with Assembly Bill 2234.   

City Council meeting 
Tuesday, Dec. 2, 5 p.m. 
City Council Chamber 
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive 

Assembly Bill 2234 allows cities in San Diego County, as well as the county itself, to establish a minimum age of 12 for riding e-bikes as part of a pilot program. After Assembly Bill 2234 was passed, the Carlsbad City Council requested that the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission hold a meeting to gather community input on the potential minimum age.  

The commission held a special meeting on Sept. 16, gathering more than 550 comments from community members. Most comments expressed support for a minimum age of at least 12 years old and many requested the city consider additional rules and restrictions.  

Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission recommendations 

The commission voted to recommend the City Council:  

• Adopt a minimum age of 12 to operate an e-bike 

• Prohibit riders under age 16 from riding with passengers 

• Research the feasibility of Carlsbad joining Assembly Bill 1778, a pilot program in Marin County that allows local agencies to prohibit anyone under age 16 from riding a class 2 e-bike 

Additional staff recommendations 

On July 29, 2025, the City Council directed the City Manager to work with the Police Chief and City Attorney to develop recommendations to enhance enforcement tools to maintain public safety and address aggressive e-bike riding behavior, particularly among youth. 

• In 2022, Carlsbad became the first city in the region to pass local e-bike safety laws to curtail reckless riding as a key part of the city’s broader traffic safety strategy.  

• Since then, the city has gathered more data and community input as e-bikes have continued to gain popularity.  

• Staff have identified measures that could clarify existing Carlsbad-specific e-bikes laws as well as new rules to strengthen Carlsbad’s approach 

The City Council will consider these staff recommendations at its Dec. 2 meeting, in addition to the recommendations from the Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission.  

More details will be available in the agenda and staff report, which will be posted on the city’s website by Wednesday, Nov. 26.  

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