Stronger e-bike safety laws will be effective in Carlsbad starting March 26, 2026, after the City Council formally adopted the laws at its meeting this week.  

Here is what to expect when the new laws go into effect: 

Minimum age to operate an e-bike

Anyone operating an e-bike must be at least 12 years old, as allowed by Assembly Bill 2234. The City of Carlsbad co-sponsored AB 2234, which 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.    

Consequences for reckless riding 

Safety is the city’s top priority. 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. 

Clarification on riding safety 

In 2022, Carlsbad became the first city in San Diego County to pass local e-bike safety laws. The city has gathered more data and community input as e-bikes have continued to gain popularity, and updated the laws to more clearly specify these details: 

• 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 restrictions at parks 

E-bikes are prohibited at Poinsettia and Pine Avenue Community Parks.  

Next steps 

The new laws will take effect on March 26, 2026, beginning with a 60-day warning period. During the warning period, officers will focus primarily on education and increasing awareness of the new laws. The warning period will end on May 25, which happens to be Memorial Day. 

The city will continue to share updates throughout this process. Sign up to receive emails with the latest information.