Carlsbad, CA
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Safer Streets Together Plan
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.
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Parents are responsible for knowingly allowing their children to commit violations.
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:
- E-bike safety and training course (CHP endorsed)
- E-bike course offered by Motorcycle Safety Foundation and People for Bikes ($35.99)
- Electric Bike Academy ($50)
- League of American Bicyclists learning center (several resources available)
Grand Avenue street improvements
The City of Carlsbad is considering ways to improve parking and traffic safety along Grand Avenue by converting existing parallel parking to diagonal parking and installing a new all-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue at Madison Street.
The City Council will discuss both of these projects at its meeting on Tuesday, March 10.
City Council
Tuesday, March 10, 5 p.m.
Council Chamber
1200 Carlsbad Village Drive
How to participate
Providing input on these concepts can help ensure potential improvements align with the community’s needs and priorities. Here’s how you can participate in the meeting and share your feedback:
- Provide comments in person during the meeting
- Email clerk@carlsbadca.gov before 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting
- Watch the livestream
The agenda and staff reports will be available on the city’s website by Friday, March 6.
All-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Madison Street
The city is exploring a new all-way stop at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Madison Street to make it easier for pedestrians to safely cross the street.
- Community members have expressed concerns about this intersection in the past.
- After analyzing traffic volumes and patterns, staff recommend an all-way stop intersection to enhance pedestrian access.
Parking improvements
The City of Carlsbad has been exploring ways to add more parking in the Village and Barrio for several years, adding 44 additional parking spaces in the Village and Barrio during 2025.
As part of this effort, the city is exploring the feasibility of converting existing parallel parking on westbound Grand Avenue to diagonal parking between the Tyler Street alley and Jefferson Street. The changes being considered for this portion of Grand Avenue include:
- Reducing the number of westbound lanes on Grand Avenue from two to one
- Creating a center turn lane with turn pockets at intersections
- Adding new parking spaces
Converting parallel parking to diagonal parking in this area could add 11 parking spaces. If the all-way stop sign is approved, three more spaces could be added, bringing the total potential increase to 14.
Background
The Traffic Safety & Mobility Commission discussed both of these projects at its meeting on Monday, Feb. 2, and recommended approval to the City Council.