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: 

All-way stop at Grand and Madison

Post Date:04/23/2026 3:52 PM

A new all-way stop at Grand Avenue and Madison Street will make it easier for our community members to cross the street or turn onto Grand.  

In this video, you can go behind the scenes with our crew who did the installation Wednesday morning.  

A crew member installing a new stop sign at Grand and Madison

After receiving community concerns about the intersection, staff analyzed traffic volumes and patterns and recommended an all-way stop to enhance pedestrian access. The City Council approved the project at its March 24 meeting.  

As an added bonus, an all-way stop at this intersection will allow the city to add new parking spaces by removing red curbs that will no longer be needed.  

Addressing parking needs in the Village and Barrio remains a top priority for the city, with 44 spaces added last year. Last month, the City Council advanced two additional parking projects, aimed at both near-term and longer-term strategies to increase parking availability.  

You can view more details about those efforts on the city’s website. 

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