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 effective March 26, 2026 

The Carlsbad City Council formally adopted new e-bike laws at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The news laws are in effect as of March 26, 2026, starting with a 60-day warning period.

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

The Carlsbad Police Department hosts quarterly bike and e-bike safety classes. Sign up to be the first to know when new classes are added.

Online resources are also available: 

More street improvements completed on Kelly Drive

Post Date:02/05/2026 9:32 AM

The City of Carlsbad recently completed additional street improvements to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion near Kelly Elementary School:

  • Creating a new pick-up/drop-off queue lane to improve access to the school and reduce traffic back-ups. 
  • Restriping the existing median on Kelly Drive in front of Kelly Elementary School to discourage left turns from the parking lot 

The City Council approved these changes during its meeting on Dec. 9, 2025, and staff got to work quickly to complete construction during the school’s winter break. Watch this video to see the new improvements.

Kelly and Park graphic

More street improvements are in the works for this area. The city will begin work soon to develop a Safe Routes to School plan in collaboration with Kelly Elementary School and the neighboring community. 

Safe Routes to School plans create opportunities for city staff to work closely with students, parents, school officials and residents to gain a better understanding of the needs and priorities of the surrounding community. We expect this work to begin this spring, and the plan will take about one year to develop.

Sign up to receive email updates on the project and to be notified when there are opportunities for input.

Learn more

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